No lead poisoning in children linked to infant formula scare: health authorities

Hong Kong health authorities have announced that no children have exhibited signs of lead poisoning following the consumption of a contaminated batch of infant formula. This revelation came a month after Macau authorities raised concerns about potential lead levels exceeding legal limits in a batch of Frisolac Prestige Stage 1 formula manufactured by Dutch company Royal FrieslandCampina.

The Department of Health reported receiving 762 inquiries via their dedicated hotline and maternal and child health centres. In response, health officers advised parents to switch formula brands and referred 446 babies and young children to public hospitals for evaluation. Out of these, 237 children underwent clinical assessments, all of whom were found to be in good health with no evidence of lead poisoning.

The remaining cases are either awaiting assessment or the parents have opted against further tests. The hotline is set to close operations on Friday at 6pm as the volume of inquiries has decreased. The Department of Health recommended seeking medical advice if children were to exhibit symptoms of illness. The Centre for Food Safety, responsible for the recall of the product, has intensified monitoring of lead content in powdered infant and follow-up formulas in the market.

So far, no cases have been detected that surpass Hong Kong's set standard for lead. Macau authorities had raised the alarm in late July after a batch contained 0.2 mg/kg of lead, which is 10 times the permissible limit of 0.02 mg/kg. Despite the concerns, the Dutch manufacturer of Friso assured the safety of their product, with third-party quality tests confirming compliance with Hong Kong and Macau standards.