DOH checking if babies' kidney ailments linked to China milk
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 09/24/2008 9:30 AM
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The Department of Health (DOH) said Wednesday it is already investigating kidney-related cases of babies in a hospital that may have been caused by contaminated milk formulas from China.
Dr. Eric Tayag, chief of DOH-National Epidemiology Center, said the health department is checking the background of the babies' kidney cases. He refused, however, to give details, including the name of the hospital.
"We will try to trace if the babies have histories of milk formula feeding, and then we will trace through the BFAD (Bureau of Food and Drugs), the source of the milk formula," Tayag told ABS-CBN's morning show, "Umagang Kay Ganda."
The DOH probe comes amidst a scandal on China’s milk products that have been found to be contaminated with melamine found to have caused kidney-related illness among babies in China. Some brands of China’s milk products were found to be sold in some stores in the Philippines before a ban on its sale and importation was imposed.
DOH, BFAD: Stop use of China milk products
Tayag reiterated the DOH's warning to parents to stop giving their babies milk products from China.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the DOH said it has started imposing a total import ban of infant formula and other milk products from China.
In a text message to ABS-CBN News, the DOH said the ban is effective immediately, pursuant to Article 10 of the Consumer Act.
The Bureau of Food and Drugs also announced the import and sale ban on Chinese milk products the same day.
“...in the interest of protecting public health and welfare, directing all licensed importers and/or distributors of registered milk products sourced from China to immediately stop temporarily from further importing distributing, selling and offering for sale the aforesaid products,” said BFAD in an advisory dated September 22.
The BFAD advisory, signed by Director Leticia Barbara Gutierrez, said the ban on importation and sale would be in effect “until further notice from this bureau when data are presented assuring the products' safety and fitness for human consumption.”
BFAD reiterated that there is no infant formula produced in and imported from China that is registered with the agency.
BFAD advised consumers "not to purchase and use outright infant formula from China that might have been brought into the country through unauthorized means."
Consumers were also warned "not to purchase for the time being, milk products that are manufactured or sourced in China until further notice from this bureau when data are presented assuring the products' safety and fitness for human consumption."
The BFAD advisory reiterated the agency's call to local officials to conduct investigation on the "unauthorized" import of infant formula and milk products manufactured in China.
Other countries have banned the use of Chinese milk products, which are feared tainted with a toxic substance called melamine.
At least 50,000 babies in China have been brought to hospitals for kidney-related illnesses caused by drinking milk formulas tainted with melamine.
Majority of the sickened Chinese babies developed kidney stones by drinking tainted milk products.
