Dr Paul Hutchison MP National Party Food Safety Spokesman
16 July 2007
Warning on baby formula far too late
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority's (NZFSA) warning that parents should not use a popular baby formula has come far
too late, says National Party Food Safety spokesman, Dr Paul Hutchison.
The NZFSA says the Nutricia Gold Plus range contains the fructose substance FOS, which is not permitted to be used in
infant formula under joint Australia-New Zealand standards. However the NZFSA claims it cannot recall the products
because there is no evidence that FOS causes any harm.
"It is vitally important that the ingredients in infant formula must be of the highest calibre, tested and approved - it
is unacceptable that Nutricia put an untested, potentially harmful additive into their product.
"And why did it take so long for the warning to be issued? Australian authorities acted a month ago.
"The Minister, Annette King, needs to reassure the public that such blatant and dangerous breaches of food safety
regulations will not be tolerated.
"She also needs to ask serious questions of the NZFSA on why they left it a month before warning parents of the
potential danger."
ENDS