Philippines recalls baby milk

菲律宾食品与药品局的官员20号宣布，菲律宾政府已经下令召回一批由美国惠氏公司生产的婴幼儿配方奶粉，原因是这些产品可能于去年菲律宾遭遇台风期间在仓库中受到污染，奶粉中存在锈迹和霉斑。惠氏公司当天回应说，问题是出在产品包装而不是质量上。

THE Philippine government has ordered the recall of millions of cans of infant formula made by American-based company Wyeth because they may have been contaminated at a Philippine warehouse during a storm last year, officials said yesterday.

The Bureau of Food and Drugs served the order on Tuesday for Wyeth to recall 4.3 million cans and cartons of its powdered baby milk, Health Undersecretary Alexander Padilla said.

He said the order was made after verifying confidential information that the baby milk had been exposed to the elements during a powerful typhoon in the Philippines last year, but not immediately recalled.

Wyeth, however, insisted the quality of the milk powder was not affected, and that only the packaging had been damaged in the storm.

The recall order came the same day the Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to allow health officials to impose stringent measures against what they call aggressive advertising by foreign milk companies, which has many women believing infant formula is better than mother's milk.

Joshua Ramos, deputy director of the Bureau of Food and Drugs, said up to 4.3 million units of the infant formulas Bonna, Bonakid, Bonamil, Promil, Promil Kid, Promil Gold and Progress Gold may have been contaminated in the storm. A unit is defined as being a can or a carton.

Wyeth said in a statement that it identified rusty spots on the outer rims of some cans during a routine inspection at a warehouse in July 2006 following typhoon Milanyo.