CLAIMS that unacceptable levels of chemicals have been found in leading British brands of baby milk have been denied by the country's Infant and Dietetic Foods Association. Ministry of Agriculture scientists found that phthalates - chemicals used to soften plastics like PVC - were present in every sample of nine leading brands of baby formula milk, and mixtures of six other brands they tested.
In tests by the Medical Research Council last year, similar levels of phthalates to those found in the baby milks damaged the testicles and reduced sperm counts of baby rats. But the IDFA, which represents manufacturers of baby food, said recent reports about phthalates in baby food were "misleading" and could cause "unnecessary alarm amongst mothers".
It said in a statement that a recent ministry survey of phthalates in the diet and shown the presence of very low levels of phthalates in the food chain, including infant formulas. "These levels were well within safety limits and do not represent a risk to infants."
The association said the chemicals were present in the environment and in many foods at low levels, through their use in plastic packaging in a wide range of household goods. However, it said it was not thought the chemicals had entered the baby food through packaging.
The British agriculture ministry confirmed it had held unpublicised talks with baby milk manufacturers to discuss the situation and try to trace the source of the chemicals.
A spokesman told PA News: The tests showed that the levels of phthalates were slightly above the Tolerable Daily Intakes of the chemicals, but there is no cause for concern. The TDIs were fixed at 100 times the lowest level at which the chemicals were thought to be potentially harmful, to leave a wide safety margin.
Mothers should continue to use formula milk, he said.
He said claims of secrecy were disproved by the fact that the ministry published information on concern about rising levels of phthalates in its Food Safety Bulletin in March.
But the ministry did not disclose the brands tested or the levels found in different makes.
A leading member of the British Medical Association, Dr John Chisholm, said he expected to face a flood of questions from anxious parents when he was next in his surgery after the UK bank holiday weekend.
"The trouble is that doctors, nurses, midwives and health visitors have been given no better information than members of the public."
Dr Chisholm said he would be using the BMA's connections to press for the Department of Health to issue immediate in formation to doctors, using a national "fax cascade" system devised for emergencies. He particularly wanted to know the names of baby milk brands with high levels of phthalates, and those with lower or no traces.
Ms Diane McRea of the Consumers' Association said of the report that "if this is true it is an absolute outrage." Once again it seemed the government was ignoring consumers' interests.
A spokesman for the Medical Research Council, which carried out the research on phthalates and rats, said: "This is obviously something to be concerned about, but the research is incomplete. Essentially, our work was in animals, and there is as yet no evidence that the same thing applies to humans."