Worrying report on dried baby foods/formula ?

[LIZS]

Have just caughtthis on BBCi. Not sure if this is just common sense, another reason to be cautious over weaning or something new. In the light of the tragedy in China it makes me wonder how much quality control is really put into baby products.

Oh fab - more for mums to worry about, eh?!

I think the thing with preparing formula is just down to following the instructions. If mad ein advance it should go straight in the fridge, and not kept in bags and room temperature. If going out it should be made up at the time of drinking, etc.

Same as with the powdered food.

I wouldn't personally let it worry you - just follow basic hygenie and sterilise, make up food according to instructions, etc.

I used to work (pre children) as a microbiologist, and whilst it wasn't for a manufacturer of baby milk, I used to know some people who work in that industry. Baby milk is indeed produced under very strict clean conditions, and extensively tested before reaching the market (I can try and find out exactly what happens if you like). I note the article says that the bacteria CAN cause meningitis. This means even in the remote chance your baby milk did contain it, your baby wouldn't necessarily get meningitis. They also tested milk from all over the world, but don't state which countries the affected milk originated from.
It's surely obvious that if you leave warm milk out (which most bacteria will think is yummy) any bacteria present will multiply quickly (actually doubling every 20mins in ideal conditions), this is why milk is stored in the fridge, or made up minutes before feeding, and made up with boiled water.
Sounds like a classic case of media scare mongering to me.

don't know if this helps or adds to the discussion, but was at a WHO and UN Food and Agriculture Organisation food safety conference recently, and they did talk about that particular bacteria in infant formula. Apparently it's a very common bacteria. While I can't remember exactly what the WHO guy said about it, he basically said there was no need to worry too much, echoing some of nicmum2boys comments on how remote the chances are of actually contracting diseases from the bacteria.He said something like "It's such a common bacteria that if you keep looking for it, you will eventually find it."
Oh god I know that doesnt help.