Naomi you wrote, "The ramifications for the babies are clearly much more
serious than previous, and, if they are looking at genetic engineering as a
possible
cause of the problem, then indeed we have a much more serious problem
here. In my post, I was referring to the fact that the cause of the
recall was not suspected poisoning by any third party. Poisoning by the
manufacturer is bad enough, I think."

Yes, it is much more serious.  According to various newspaper accounts, 3
infant deaths, 17-19 infants hospitalized.  It is believed that 5,000 children
have consumed this product in the past 6 months.  According to CBS news, this
infant formula was sold in the USA and there is one infant hospitalized in
serious condition in a Boston Hospital.

In reading the various news accounts I do not believe that we can say that it
is known what happened.  The manufacturer, a German company Humana Milchunion
(in part owned by Heinz) claims that an independent lab tested the baby milk
and it had B1 in it.  According to the israelinsider website, on Monday the
Israel Police raided the Rishon Letzion offices of Remedia.  Thus, I believe we
may know that this particular infant formula does not have B1 in it, but how
this happened maybe an ongoing dispute between the manufacturer and Israeli
authorities.  Two lawsuits have already been filed seeking more than $222 million
in damages.  There are possible manslaughter charges.

I would say that either the manufacturing process is far too lax and
safeguards were not followed.  Or one might still consider that the manufacturer had
nothing to do with it and that it was sabotage--the Mossad is still involved in
the investigation.

Infants are the most vulnerable group in our population.  We are living in
troubling times and any nation nowadays(particularly nations at war or
"undeclared" wars) should have stringent safeguards in place in regard to the
manufacturing of infant formula.  This assumption by developed nations of risk-free
infant formula is absurd.  It would be far safer and cheaper to support, promote,
and protect breastfeeding. But....we don't.

As for genetic engineering being part of the problem, I haven't eliminated
that question in my mind.  It certainly is NOT on the minds of policy makers in
regard to infant formula feeding.  The FDA considers anything that is
genetically engineered to be equivalent to the real thing.  So I am sure that there is
no questioning of this new science--to question that science would impact
everyone financially.

What's in a can of infant formula?  Most people don't realize how many foods
are genetically engineered or made through some of the new fermentation
processes(used in yeast, culture starters for yogurts, etc) that create novel
ingredients.  How do you make a product that has to have a shelf life of some 2
years?  What do you have to do in order to make it stay the same color and
consistency?  What chemicals are in it?  Does genetic engineering cause changes?
Will it create new toxins?  Could B1 disappear due to chemical reactions?
Questions I wish policy makers would ask but don't because the assumption is that
infant formula is just a little milk, sugar, and vitamins.
Valerie W. McClain, IBCLC



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