Premature baby milk used by NHS hospitals recalled over lead contamination fears

09 January 2023 , 14:24

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Human breast milk products have been recalled from UK hospitals (Image: Derby Telegraph)

Batches of human breast milk are being recalled over fears about the levels of lead some may contain.

Bosses at the Food Standards Agency have launched a probe into the milk products made by NeoKare Nutrition Limited, which are understood to have higher than usual lead content.

The products have been supplied to 13 NHS hospitals, with all now urgently recalled.

Of the 13, seven are known to have used the products, including six in England and the other in Wales.

It's understood a very small number of premature babies were given the milk as part of a clinical trial, or as an alternative nutrition source.

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The breast milk products were given out at seven different hospitals (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The hospitals affected have not yet been disclosed, although the number of families whose babies were given the milk have been contacted by the NHS.

While the product has been recalled, the levels of lead are not thought to be genuinely dangerous, the FSA confirmed.

Both the FSA and Trading Standards have advised for all products sold by the company to be withdrawn and recalled as a precaution.

A small number of customers who purchased the affected products online have been notified by the company.

The lead content is 'unlikely' to pose a risk to babies' health (Getty Images)

The recalls notice affects four products which had been available to purchase online. They include:

• MOTHER’S MILK FORTIFIER (MMF) POWDER 10 x 1g, food for special medical purpose, supplied to NHS Hospitals only for use predominantly in clinical trials involving preterm babies, not available for retail sale

• PASTEURISED HUMAN BREAST MILK (PHBM) POWDER 6g (supplied direct to customers online)

• 70CAL LIQUID FROZEN 15ml and 50ml, (supplied to the NHS Hospitals and supplied direct to customers online)

• PASTEURISED HUMAN BREAST MILK (PHBM) LIQUID FROZEN 50ml (supplied direct to customers online)

Only commercial products made by NeoKare Nutrition Limited are affected by the recall. No other human breast milk or baby formula products on sale to the public are included in the recall and donor human breast milk from not-for-profit milk banks is unaffected.

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Junior Johnson, director of operations at the FSA, said: "This situation is understandably worrying for the parents and guardians affected. We have worked closely with the public health authorities and the NHS to assess the risk to health, which is likely to be low.

"Following advice from FSA and Trading Standards, the business recalled the products and we’ve ensured that customers and patients are contacted. Additional support has been offered to retail customers and to families whose children were given the products.

"We continue to work with Trading Standards to ensure there is no further food safety risk to the public."

Susie Beever