HC Deb 03 February 1976 vol 904 cc524-6W
Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what evidence exists that national dried milk is detrimental to the health of infants

(2) what symptoms manifest themselves in infants to indicate that national dried milk causes ill health;

(3) if she intends to prohibit the use of national dried milk altogether.

Mr. Meacher

Three relevant recommendations of a report "Present day practice in infant feeding" by a working party of the chief medical officer's committee on medical aspects of food policy, which was published by the Department in October 1974 wereBecause we are convinced that satisfactory growth and development after birth is more certain when an infant is fed an adequate volume of breast milk, we recommend that all mothers be encouraged to breast feed their babies for a minimum of two weeks and preferably for the first four to six months of life". We are aware that lactation will not always be successfully established and we therefore recommend that the provision of modified cows' milk feeds, at a reasonable cost, should be continued". We recommend that the reconstituted artificial milk feed, with the exception of the amounts of vitamins A, C and D and of the iron compound with which such feeds are at present fortified, should approximate to the composition of breast milk as nearly as is practicable. Such milk feeds should contain a concentration of phosphate, sodium and protein which is lower than that of cows' milk and nearer to that of breast milk".

Because of the implications of this report a working party was set up to advise on the composition of foods for infants and younger children. This is a complex matter but the new working party has recently made an interim statement on baby milks. They concluded that the use of unmodified cows' milk preparations such as National Dried Milk and similar proprietary brands can no longer be recommended as a substitute for human milk in the feeding of infants. It is associated with a number of risks to health which are not present with human milk and are greatly reduced when suitably modified cows' milk preparations are used. The risks, which have not been evaluated in statistical terms, are being increasingly recognised. They are: (a) neo-natal tetany in the first two weeks of life; and (b) hypernatraemia—too high a concentration of sodium chloride with complications within the first few months of life.

They are due to the higher sodium, phosphate and protein concentration in unmodified milks and have their maximal effect on the youngest infants. The risks diminish with the increasing maturity of the infant, and for healthy infants beyond the age of six months can be disregarded.

My right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales and I have arranged to discuss urgently with the manufacturers of baby milk foods and with others concerned what arrangements might be made by amending the Welfare Food Order 1975 to supply proprietary brands of modified baby milk powders instead of National Dried Milk for those at present entitled to free issues, e.g. very young children in needy families or large young families. We will make an announcement as soon as possible.

We do not intend to withdraw supplies of National Dried Milk because we are advised that it is suitable for healthy infants over six months of age.

Our Departments are issuing guidance to the relevant professions.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what substances in national dried milk do not appear in proprietary brands of dried milk.

Mr. Meacher

There are no substances in National Dried Milk which do not appear in all brands of proprietary dried milk on the market for healthy full-term infants. The proportions of certain substances in all unmodified cows-milk foods including National Dried Milk, are different from those in the modified cows milks where the mineral and protein content is lower.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many maternity hospitals in the United Kingdom have refused to use national dried milk.

Mr. Meacher

It is for individual clinicians to prescribe the foods to be provided for babies in their charge. No information is collected centrally about the brands of milk foods which they prescribe.

Mrs. Bain

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many tons of national dried milk have been produced in the last year; and how many tons of it are still in stock due to lack of demand.

Mr. Meacher

3,350 tons were packed during 1975. Stocks at storage depots on 31st December 1975 were less than the average monthly issues at that time and amounted to 215 tons.