HC Deb 04 July 1973 vol 859 c156W
Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take action, in view of the publication in the British Medical Journal of 7th April 1973, of the article "Inaccuracies in measurement of dried milk powders", to persuade or require dried milk manufacturers to adopt a standardised deep scoop or single dose wrappings to avoid the danger of feeding babies milk reconstituted with excessive powder-water ratios;

(2) if he will draw to the attention of local medical officers of health and all those conducting ante-natal clinics the dangers of inadvertent feeding of babies with milk, reconstituted at excessive powder-water ratios, due to inherently inaccurate scoops included in dried milk powder packets, as reported in a British Medical Journal article dated 7th April 1973, entitled "Inaccuracies in Measurement of Dried Milk Powders ".

Sir K. Joseph

The Panel on Child Nutrition, a sub-committee of the Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy, is well aware of the several problems of infant feeding which are becoming increasingly apparent with the continued decline in breast feeding, including the specific problem referred' to in the article mentioned by my hon. Friend and in a later article in theBritish Medical Journal of 30th June.

Because of its recognition of these problems the panel set up an expert group to produce recommendations without delay which will serve as guidance to manufacturers and as a basis for health education, particularly of mothers of small infants.