Posted on 11/11/2003 9:05:22 AM PST by SJackson
German Company Removed the Vitamin
The Remedia beriberi crisis took a dramatic turn today, when the company's attorney told a Knesset committee that the German manufacturer of the soy-based baby-formula had consciously removed Vitamin B1 from the ingredients. The manufacturer - Humana GmbH, part of a collective that is Germany's second biggest producer of milk products - reportedly removed the vitamin because it was already found in sufficient quantities in the soy on which the product was based. This, however, leaves unanswered the question of why no B1 at all was found in the latest Health Ministry tests of the product.
Dr. Dorit Nitzan-Kaluski, head of the Health Ministry's Food and Nutrition Authority, told the Knesset committee today that her office has "no confidence in Remedia." She said that someone in the company must have known of the lack of the vitamin, and that this person must have known that the Health Ministry's check of random samplings - which showed that B1 was present - were not accurate.
Two babies have died in the past several weeks after they were fed only Remedia's soy-based formula. Until now, Humana has not denied or confirmed that it had removed the crucial vitamin, although the product label specifies clearly that B1 is found in sufficient quantities. Humana did, however, emphasize that the formula was kosher and manufactured under rabbinical supervision. Responding to insinuations that the kosher specifications were responsible for the decision to remove the vitamin, Rabbi Dr. Yisrael Meir Levinger, an expert in kashrut in Europe, told Arutz-7 this morning, "It cannot be believed or assumed that a serious food manufacturing plant would produce a contaminated or tainted food simply to attain a Kashrut certification." He said that vitamins do not normally come from non-kosher sources: "They come from vegetable sources, generally not from animal sources, and in fact they are usually manufactured artificially."
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Three More Babies Hospitalized With Beriberi
Three infants were hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva last night, for fear that they, too, may have been inflicted with the Remedia-B1 syndrome - otherwise known as beriberi.
Three infants between the ages of five months and a year were hospitalized in Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva last night, for fear that they, too, may have been inflicted with the Remedia-B1 syndrome. The number of hospitalized babies in the Remedia case is now eight; 17 instances have been discovered, and three babies have died, including one who died six months ago. The condition of three babies in Schneider Children's Hospital has improved, although a fourth is still unconscious.
The Health Ministry issued instructions last night for all parents who have fed their babies Remedia's soy-based milk substitute in the past two months to take them for check-ups. The country's health funds will distribute free Vitamin B1 syrup to babies who need it.
The Health Ministry now assumes that the mysterious disease is nothing other than beriberi, a severe thiamine (B1) deficiency, which some feel is a "third world" disease. Beriberi has become very rare in the western world because most foods are vitamin-enriched. However, it can occur in breast-fed infants when the mother has an inadequate intake of thiamine, in infants fed formulas with inadequate thiamine supplements, and in developing countries with limited diets based largely on milled rice.
The Remedia formula is not poisonous, but it does not contain the all-important Vitamin B1 - contrary to the list of ingredients on the package. The formula was changed several months ago, but the list of ingredients did not reflect the new composition. Not only did the stock of Remedia's competitor Materna jump 41% yesterday, but the State Prosecution is now considering a criminal investigation against the directors of Remedia.
Food companies have always skimped on vitamins. Taste over nutrician, and we wonder why half the population is on anti-depressants or other drugs.
Human error resulted in a lack of vitamin B-1 in soy-based baby food produced by Germany's Humana GmbH and sold in Israel. Three Israeli infants have died of a B-1 deficiency.
A Humana spokesperson admitted on Tuesday that a calculation error resulted in too little vitamin B-1 being included in a new recipe for kosher baby formula sold in Israel by Remedia Ltd. The product contained only a tenth of the amount of essential B-1 stated on the package.
Lack of B-1 can lead to acute beriberi, a deficiency disease with symptoms including inflamed or degenerative changes in the nerves, digestive system and heart. The Israeli Health Ministry said at least seven other babies fed the formula had developed beriberi, while as many as 20 are said to be seriously ill.
Fatal mistakes
Humana, which is part of the Humana Milchunion collective, Germany's second biggest producer of milk products, has built its reputation on quality. But the information released by the company on Tuesday reveals a chain of mistakes and negligence.
During analysis of the formula's new composition -- based on two previous recipes -- test results were wrongly interpreted. Chemists falsely concluded that the vitamin B-1 concentration was too high. On March 21, a sample of the formula was submitted for a routine check, but due to a "procedural error," the sample wasn't fully tested."The vitamin analysis was not repeated," the company report said.
Humana said it's still unclear whether the company is responsible for the deaths of the three infants, as it is waiting for the results of medical examinations. However, the company said there will be consequences for the staff deemed to be responsible for the mistakes.
Intense investigation
Israeli officials opened their investigation on Monday after the Health Ministry said that three infants died of beriberi. Tests conducted by Israeli authorities showed that Remedia's Super Soya 1 formula contained no B-1 despite a label that said it did.
Humana responded on Monday saying that tests conducted by independent laboratories in Germany proved B-1 was present in the formula. "We accept responsibility for this false declaration," a company spokesman said on Tuesday.
Humana's admission clears away earlier suspicions of deliberate sabotage and an anti-Jewish attack on the Israeli people. Israeli officials had enlisted the help of the Shin Beth and Mossad secret services for their investigation.
Remedia Super Soya 1 is produced solely for the Israeli market, which is why the authorities became suspicious, reports on Israeli radio said. The formula is unique because it is manufactured under rabbinical supervision to ensure it complies with Jewish dietary laws.
Breast-feeding as religion: Dennis Prager debunks another issue
The wise man says:
"I acknowledge having no scientific basis on which to challenge the many scientific studies that point to the health benefits of breast-feeding, such as fewer infant infections, fewer early allergies, getting the mother's antibodies, and so on. I do, however, believe that in a health-conscious home, these benefits are negligible. On what grounds do I believe this? Common sense - our built-in defense against nonsense - suggests it."
I think the infants receiving this formula were lactose-intolerant and they could not digest milk products, including, apparently, breast milk.
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