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Instructions for use of powdered infant formulae and follow-on formulae

This position taken here by the Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira is based on the European Food Safety Authority EFSA recommendation concerning the safe use of infant formulae and follow-on formulae in relation to the risk caused by the E. saka-zakii bacterium, which, in addition to salmonella, is considered the biggest microbi-ological risk for infant formulae.

E.sakazakii is a general bacterium found in the environment and can survive for long periods in dried products. The risk of healthy, normal-weight children, newborn or older, falling ill through a powdered infant formula is extremely low. Most at risk are newborn babies born prematurely, sick or otherwise immunocompromised. An illness caused by E. sakazakii can appear in the form of meningitis, blood poisoning or entiri-tis and can be fatal. The bacterium does not grow in temperatures below 5 OC, so the problems can appear mainly if mixed formula is stored at temperatures too high for too long periods, or if formula left over from previous feeding is reused.

Provisions for the composition, labelling, trading and reporting of infant formulae and follow-on formulae are laid down in Directive 2006/141/EC (implemented in Finland by the Decision by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, 1216/2007). Powdered infant formulae and follow-on formulae must be accompanied by clear instructions for preparation and a warning about the health hazards caused by incorrect preparation (article 7). On the basis of this, Evira considers that the packaging must carry the fol-lowing instructions:

  1. Do not prepare mixed formula for more than one feeding at one time. Ob-serve the correct dosage.
  2. Prepare the beverage in clean, boiled (more than 70 OC) and cooled water. Take the water from a cold-water tap. Wash and boil the bottles before us-ing them. It is not necessary to boil bottles once solid foods are introduced.
  3. Do not store mixed formula at warm temperatures.
  4. Throw away any of the mixed formula remaining in the bottle after feeding.