Cronobacter Support
04-15-2009, 04:23 PM
Safefood, the food safety promotion board, and the HSE have launched a new publication on how to prepare formula feeds for babies.
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health and Nutrition at Safefood warned that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and has the potential to cause illness if not prepared properly. In rare circumstances, powdered infant formula can contain the bacterium Enterobacter sakazakii (E.sakazakii) and other harmful bacteria. These bacteria can cause illness in infants. Babies under 2 months are most at risk. However, making up the formula using water that is above 70°C will kill E.sakazakii and any other bacteria like salmonella that may be present, said Dr Foley-Nolan
Because adding just-boiled water to formula can lead to a loss of some of the nutrients in the formula, Dr Foley-Nolan said that if parents and carers follow the 30-minute rule any harmful bacteria will be killed. The 30 minute rule means that after boiling fresh water, the water is left to cool for 30 minutes before adding the powdered infant formula.
The Safefood/HSE publication is an easy-to-follow, 10-step poster and booklet to help parents and carers follow the 30-minute rule. It is also hoped that these resources will be used by public health nurses, dieticians working with infants, environmental health officers and those working at pre-schools when discussing bottle feeds with parents.
The 10-steps on making baby’s bottles safely are:
Boil water
Leave to cool for 30 minutes but no longer
Clean surfaces, wash hands
Read the instructions on the formula’s label carefully
Pour the boiled water into sterile bottle
Add formula using scoop provided
Shake well
Cool quickly
Check temperature is cool enough for baby
Throw away any unused feed after 2 hours.
Copies of the booklet are available from safefood.eu or by calling the Safefood helpline on 1850 40 45 67 or the HSE infoline on 1850 24 1850.
Posted from vhi.ie/news
Dr Cliodhna Foley-Nolan, Director, Human Health and Nutrition at Safefood warned that powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and has the potential to cause illness if not prepared properly. In rare circumstances, powdered infant formula can contain the bacterium Enterobacter sakazakii (E.sakazakii) and other harmful bacteria. These bacteria can cause illness in infants. Babies under 2 months are most at risk. However, making up the formula using water that is above 70°C will kill E.sakazakii and any other bacteria like salmonella that may be present, said Dr Foley-Nolan
Because adding just-boiled water to formula can lead to a loss of some of the nutrients in the formula, Dr Foley-Nolan said that if parents and carers follow the 30-minute rule any harmful bacteria will be killed. The 30 minute rule means that after boiling fresh water, the water is left to cool for 30 minutes before adding the powdered infant formula.
The Safefood/HSE publication is an easy-to-follow, 10-step poster and booklet to help parents and carers follow the 30-minute rule. It is also hoped that these resources will be used by public health nurses, dieticians working with infants, environmental health officers and those working at pre-schools when discussing bottle feeds with parents.
The 10-steps on making baby’s bottles safely are:
Boil water
Leave to cool for 30 minutes but no longer
Clean surfaces, wash hands
Read the instructions on the formula’s label carefully
Pour the boiled water into sterile bottle
Add formula using scoop provided
Shake well
Cool quickly
Check temperature is cool enough for baby
Throw away any unused feed after 2 hours.
Copies of the booklet are available from safefood.eu or by calling the Safefood helpline on 1850 40 45 67 or the HSE infoline on 1850 24 1850.
Posted from vhi.ie/news