Police in Malaysia have seized 210 boxes of suspected counterfeit infant milk formula from a number of stores in the state of Johor.
The raids were part of a wider investigation into growing fears that organised criminals are producing fake baby formula and selling it to shop owners on an industrial scale, putting the lives of young children at risk.
Malaysia’s Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) said it is awaiting the results of laboratory tests on the suspected counterfeit milk before taking further action, prompting some commentators to question why affected products are not being cleared from shop shelves while investigations are underway.
KPDNKK minister Hamzah Zainuddin said any decision to recall suspected fake formula milk will only be taken once tests have been completed.
“We will wait for the analysis results so that we will know what is the actual content of the product before taking any action,” he told reporters.
Formula manufacturers and the Malaysian government are thought to have known about the possibility that fake baby milk was being sold in the country since August, prompting opposition MPs to ask why action was not taken sooner.
Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching pointed to reports of a toddler becoming ill after consuming possible counterfeit baby formula milk over three months ago, when the parents lodged a report with the product’s manufacturer.
She claims the KPDNKK and Health Ministry’s delayed response has jeopardised the health and safety of “hundreds if not thousands” of infants.
Mead Johnson, whose Enfalac A+ Step 1 formula product is known to have been faked by counterfeiters, has issued guidance on how to tell bogus milk products apart from the genuine article.
The firm notes that genuine Enfalac pouches are a bit “puffy”, while the counterfeit versions are tight-fitting to the powder.
Reports of children becoming ill after consuming baby milk in Malaysia have been circulating for months, with parents presenting their children at hospitals with symptoms including vomiting, rashes and rectal bleeding.
Some campaigners have noted that Malaysian parents often opt for cheaper brands of baby milk formula, and that they are not wary enough of lower-priced products that are regularly offered for sale at prices that are too good to be true.
One Malaysian woman took to Facebook to describe what happened to her son after he consumed suspected counterfeit infant milk formula.
Seila Nawi said she only realised what made her son ill after news of the scandal broke.
She explained that her son stayed in hospital for nearly two weeks after consuming fake formula, during which time doctors were unable to determine the cause of his condition, other than falsely attributing it to food poisoning.
Before being admitted to hospital, the boy was vomiting nine times a day and had developed a fever and rashes all over his body.
Nawi is currently working with Mead Johnson and police to identify the suppliers of the counterfeit formula she gave her son. This story was widespread on social media yesterday.
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