Inaccurate baby feeding bottles
Media release
28 February
2013
Ministry of Health and Consumer
Affairs
Some low-cost feeding bottles for
babies sold in New Zealand have inaccurate markings, meaning
some babies could be getting infant formula that is too
concentrated.
Some bottles overestimate the fluid volume by up to 40 percent. This has possible health consequences for babies.
Consumer Affairs (part of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) has surveyed volume indicator markings on 35 bottles. Fifteen had volume markings that were inaccurate by more than five percent – these bottles tended to be purchased from discount shops.
Formula that is too concentrated can cause babies to have problems like vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Untreated, this can cause serious dehydration.
Over time, formula that is too concentrated will provide excess energy (calories) and other nutrients. This could lead to overweight or obese babies and toddlers. It could also harm organs such as the kidneys, when they are still immature.
Most feeding bottles are imported and some of these meet a European regulatory standard (the EN14350 standard) that means the bottles are accurate. However, these bottles can be more expensive than bottles sold at discount shops.
The survey findings have prompted the Ministry of Health, in conjunction with Consumer Affairs (Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment), the Pharmacy Guild and Plunket to develop guidance for caregivers.
Caregivers using infant formula are being advised by the ministries that they can get the accuracy of their feeding bottles checked.
They are now able to take their baby bottles to a pharmacy which has accurate measuring equipment. If necessary, the correct measures of volume can then be marked on their bottles.
The Ministry of Health recommends all babies are exclusively breastfed to around six months of age, and continue to be breastfed for up to one year of age or beyond once complementary foods are introduced.
For those babies not fed breast milk, infant formula is the only appropriate milk alternative up to one year of age.
If you are breastfeeding your baby this issue does not affect you.
If you are expressing breast milk to feed your baby
and want to know the accurate volume being expressed or
given either use an EN14350 bottle or check the accuracy of
your bottle or measuring containers at your local pharmacy.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the problem?
Some
caregivers may be using feeding bottles for babies with
inaccurate volume markings, which mean they could be
unintentionally feeding their babies infant formula that is
too concentrated.
A survey by Consumer Affairs (part of
the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment) has
found that a number of baby bottles sold in New Zealand have
incorrect volume markings on them.
Of 35 bottles tested,
15 had volume indicator markings that were inaccurate by
more than five percent. Some bottles overestimated the
volume of fluid in the bottle by up to 40 percent.
This
means that the 100 ml mark on the bottle would actually be
only 60 ml in volume.
The inaccurate bottles tended to
be cheaper, un-named brands purchased from discount shops.
What does that mean for babies?
Formula that is too concentrated can cause problems like
vomiting, diarrhoea and constipation. Untreated, this can
cause serious dehydration.
Formula that is too
concentrated will provide excess energy (calories) and other
nutrients.
Over time this could lead to overweight or
obese babies and toddlers. It could also harm organs such as
the kidneys, when they are still immature.
Could
this be a problem for all babies who have infant
formula?
Yes, but it is especially a problem
for younger babies, that is, babies six months of age and
younger. Older babies are bigger and have more mature
organs. Also they will be eating food and possibly drinking
water from around six months of age so are not so dependent
on formula for all their food and fluid needs.
But won’t baby stop feeding once baby has had
their fill?
Yes usually, but baby may feel full
sooner due to the more concentrated formula and may stop
drinking before he or she has had enough fluid. This could
cause baby to become dehydrated.
On the other hand, baby
may keep drinking to quench his or her thirst. This could
mean baby takes in too many calories and nutrients because
the formula is too concentrated.
Did all of the
inaccurate volume markings result in over-concentrating
infant formula?
Most did, however, four bottles
had inaccurate volume markings that resulted in
over-diluting the infant formula by between 6 and 10
percent.
Infant formula that is too diluted (too much
water added) could result in babies not getting enough
energy (calories) and nutrients. Long-term under-nutrition
can lead to delayed growth and development.
Are
there any baby bottles with accurate volume
markings?
Yes – bottles that state on the
packaging that they comply with the EN14350 standard or have
EN14350 stamped on the actual bottle should be accurate.
This is a European standard that requires bottles filled to
the 100 ml mark to be accurate to within five percent.
I’ve got a household measuring cup or jug –
can’t I use that to measure the amount of water
required?
While these cups and jugs are
suitable for baking and general kitchen use, they are not
accurate enough for measuring small amounts of fluid, such
as for making up infant formula. As a result we don’t
recommend using them to measure the water needed for infant
formula.
I don’t have any bottles with the
EN14350 label or mark on them, what should I do?
Pharmacies have access to what are called trade-quality
measuring equipment and can check if your baby bottles are
accurate.
You can take your baby bottles to a pharmacy
and ask a pharmacist or other member of staff to check if
your bottles are accurate. Then, if necessary, pharmacies
will be able to mark the correct volume levels on your
bottles. Note that pharmacists may charge a fee for this
service.
The Ministry of Health has been working with
the Pharmacy Guild to ensure that this is possible and that
pharmacy staff can help you.
Why don’t you
make it mandatory for bottles sold in New Zealand to meet
that standard?
The Ministry of Business,
Innovation and Employment (MBIE) advises that this issue
falls outside of the scope of current consumer law.
The
provisions of the Fair Trading Act 1986 allow mandatory
standards relating to products which may cause injury. Baby
bottles which do not meet the EN14350 standard are not in
themselves unsafe, rather they may have the potential in
some cases to lead to adverse health effects.
The
Weights and Measures Act 1987 does not offer a remedy as it
relates to measurements in trade transactions, so does not
cover inaccurate markings on baby bottles.
I’m
breastfeeding – does this affect me?
The
Ministry of Health recommends all babies are exclusively
breastfed to around six months of age, and continue to be
breastfed for up to one year of age or beyond once
complementary foods are introduced.
For those babies not
fed breast milk, infant formula is the only appropriate milk
alternative up to one year of age.
If you are
breastfeeding your baby this issue does not affect you.
If you are expressing breast milk to feed your baby and
want to know the accurate volume being expressed or given
either use an EN14350 bottle or check the accuracy of your
bottle or measuring containers with your local
pharmacy.