Probe into baby formula fluoride
Thursday June 21 2001
This was learned yesterday after Senator Avril Doyle MEP called on Health Minister Micheal Martin to immediately amend recommendations endorsing the use of fluoridated water in making up the baby food.
Use of fluoridated water for ingestion by infants "was not recommended, and on a precautionary principle basis should be avoided" and she wanted this made known, added the senator.
The amount of fluoride in public drinking water here is three to six times the recommended safe limit for infants in Britain, declared the MEP.
Accusing the authority of failing the public by not giving parents the best international advice and facts, she said its failure to carry out a risk assessment on fluoride in water is "inexplicable."
But Dr Wayne Anderson, chief food science specialist with the authority, disclosed to the Irish Independent that a sub-committee is carrying out a risk assessment on use of fluoridated water to make infant formula and has had its first meeting.
He expected the results before September and the findings would be presented to the Forum On Fluoridation set up by the Government.
Anti-fluoride groups here claim that scientific studies link fluoridation with cancer and irritable bowel syndrome and that the fluoridating chemical contains toxic levels of arsenic, chromium, nickel and mercury.
- Treacy Hogan Environment Correspondent
