Monday, November 10, 2003

Heinz investigating formula linked to sick Israeli babies - 2003-11-10 - Pittsburgh Business Times: "1:45 PM EST Monday

"H. J. Heinz Co. said its senior executives have been in consultation 'around the clock' with managers of Remedia Ltd., an Israel food company of which Heinz owns 51 percent, regarding the recall of a kosher infant formula. Three infant deaths and the hospitalization of 10 babies were linked to the soy-based formula, Israel's Health Ministry said Nov. 9... "
When Mum and Baby are Miles ApartScotsman.com News
By Lisa Salmon, PA Features

"All new mothers expect to be with their baby immediately after the birth, or at least very soon after.

But that has not happened for the Countess of Wessex, who was separated from her daughter just after the baby was born a month prematurely.

The Countess is now in a Surrey hospital recovering from an emergency Caesarean, while her 4lb 9oz premature daughter is in a specialist baby unit at a London hospital, and doctors say they will be apart for at least another three days.

The separation from her first child is likely to be traumatic for the Countess, says Sue Macdonald of the Royal College of Midwives...."
Lack of B1 behind deaths; Mossad joins probe
Israel News : Jerusalem Post Internet Edition
Nov. 10, 2003
By JUDY SIEGEL

"The deaths in recent weeks of three infants from neurological and cardiological disorders were due to them having been fed non-dairy Remedia baby formula that completely lacked vitamin B1 (thiamine), the Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

After lab tests confirmed the absence of the vitamin, the ministry asked the parents of all babies fed with this line of soy-based formula during the last two months to see their pediatricians who, if necessary, can administer the vitamin.

The Mossad and Shin Bet secret service agencies have joined the investigation of the faulty baby formula, a Health Ministry spokesman said Monday.

The director general of the ministry, Boaz Lev, raised the possibility of sabotage to the kosher soy-based milk substitute, saying 'it is impossible to know if this is intentional or not.' "..."
State urging moms to breast-feed


ANNE T. DENOGEAN
Tucson Citizen
November 10, 2003
"As part of an effort to get mothers to breast-feed exclusively for the first 12 months of their baby's life, the state health department recently launched a campaign to encourage workplace support of breast-feeding.

'The No. 1 reason women give for quitting breast-feeding is they have to go back to work,' said Anne Whitmire, nutrition services and training manager for the department's Women Infants and Children/Commodity and Supplemental Food Program."..."