The Health Bureau (SSM), in conjunction with the Pharmaceutical Supervision and Administration Bureau (ISAF) and the Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM), announced in a joint statement on Saturday that an infant formula product was found to contain lead levels exceeding safety limits.
According to the statement, IAM was notified by ISAF that a batch of “Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula” contained lead levels above Macau’s food safety standards. The sample was found to have a lead content of 0.2 mg/kg*, which exceeds the maximum limit of 0.02 mg/kg for lead in infant formula as stipulated in Macau’s Maximum Limits of Heavy Metal Contaminants in Food.
The affected batch had not been supplied to hospitals in Macau, the statement underlined, adding that the authorities immediately instructed the trade to remove the product from local shops’ shelves, initiate a recall, and cease all sales of the impacted batch.
Inspectors have also been deployed to carry out spot checks across the local market to ensure the product does not remain in circulation. In addition, officials have stepped up random sampling of infant formula powder on the market, with no irregularities found in other batches so far, according to the joint statement by the three bureaus.
The formula in question has a net weight of 800 grams, batch number 1W07KPJ, and an expiry date of 30/09/2027.
Meanwhile, the Health Bureau announced in a separate statement later that day that, in response to the case, it has arranged for the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ), public-private partnership Macao Union Hospital in Cotai, and the private Kiang Wu Hospital to establish a green channel for paediatric emergency care. The initiative aims to provide medical examinations and health consultations for infants and young children who may require them.
Parents can call the CHCSJ enquiry hotline on 8390 1177 between 9:00 a.m. and midnight daily to register details of potentially affected children and make an appointment at the public hospital’s special paediatric clinic for further assessment.
The Health Bureau urged parents whose children have consumed infant formula from the affected batch to monitor their child’s health closely and seek medical attention promptly if any symptoms occur. It added that it will continue working closely with relevant authorities to safeguard the health and safety of infants and young children.
* A lead level of 0.2 mg/kg in infant formula is extremely concerning and substantially exceeds global food safety standards. If an infant formula contains 0.2 mg/kg of lead, it represents a regulatory non-compliance issue and a health hazard. Chronic intake of lead at a concentration of 0.2 mg/kg via primary nutrition (infant formula) can lead to: Neurodevelopmental Impairment: Reduced IQ, learning difficulties, shortened attention span, and behavioural changes. Impact on Growth & Blood: Interference with haemoglobin production (anaemia) and impaired physical growth. Organ System Stress: Long-term exposure places undue stress on renal and cardiovascular health. – Gemini
This undated handout photo provided by the Health Bureau (SSM) on Saturday shows the problematic infant formula product found to contain excessive lead.
