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 that 13 infant formula samples from Dutch brand “Frisolac Prestige” were found to have no abnormalities.
Monday’s joint statement came after the three bureaus had announced in another joint statement on Saturday last week that a batch of “Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula”, imported by FrieslandCampina (Hong Kong) Ltd, was found to have a lead content of 0.2 mg/kg, exceeding 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 formula in question has a net weight of 800 grams, batch number 1W07KPJ, and an expiry date of September, 30 2027.
The Health Bureau also announced in a separate statement on Saturday that, in response to the case, it had arranged for the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre (CHCSJ), the public Macao Union Hospital in Cotai, and the private Kiang Wu Hospital to establish a green channel for paediatric emergency care.
On Tuesday, FrieslandCampina (Hong Kong) Ltd issued a statement on its official website stating that it had met with the relevant Macau authorities on Monday. During the meeting, the statement said, the company strongly requested a fresh round of sampling and testing on products from the same batch, and insisted on further clarification of the facts, adding that it expressed reservations about the Macau authorities’ practice of using “a single can” as a sample for testing.
The statement also said that the company submitted testing reports on three samples to the Macau authorities, conducted by two ISO-certified independent third-party laboratories. The lead content in all three samples was found to comply with both Macau and Hong Kong standards, the company’s statement noted.
Meanwhile, according to Monday’s joint statement, the local authorities had deployed inspectors to carry out checks at 64 retail outlets, including pharmacies and supermarkets across Macau. A total of 48 tins from the affected batch had been recalled by that time.
The statement also noted that the enquiry hotline for paediatric emergency care had received a total of 125 telephone enquiries. Of those, 38 callers had made appointments at the special paediatric clinic, and five callers had used the paediatric emergency fast-track channel. Among all those who sought medical attention, no cases of lead poisoning emergencies were identified, the joint statement said, adding that some of those who attended had also undergone blood tests and were being followed up by paediatric specialists.
According to a front-page report by the Post on Monday, 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.
Undated file photo of a tin of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 Infant Formula 800g – Photo courtesy of foodpanda
