Liquid Baby Formula Distributed with Precautions to Hokkaido

September 19, 2018

Tokyo- Liquid baby formula has been distributed by the Tokyo metropolitan government to areas in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido affected by a powerful earthquake this month, with precautions against possible allergic reactions in babies.

In August, the Japanese health ministry enforced a revised ordinance that stipulates standards for liquid formula, allowing its production and sale in the nation.

Liquid formula is useful in times of disaster as it can be stored at room temperature and babies can drink it directly from a package.

Experts, however, warn that attention is needed when babies drink such formula in times of disaster.

Liquid formula is made up of milk to which nutrients such as vitamins are added and contains the same ingredients as powdered milk.

After strong earthquakes jolted Kumamoto Prefecture and its vicinity in April 2016, Finland donated such formula to affected areas as relief goods, helping evacuees with children.

In June, the Tokyo metropolitan government concluded an agreement with major Japanese retailer Aeon Co. <8267> to procure liquid formula in times of disaster.

When torrential rain hit western Japan in July, the metropolitan government offered 2,000 bottles of liquid formula at the request of the Kurashiki city government in Okayama Prefecture.

A total of 1,050 bottles of Finnish liquid formula were provided to Hokkaido on Sept. 10 and 11, after the strong quake.

The prefecture handed out some 200 bottles of such formula to each of the five affected towns, including Atsuma and Abira, where shelters and households had not received any supplies of baby formula.

However, many babies in Japan have not yet drunk liquid formula as it has not been easily available in the country.

Although there are risks of allergic reactions occurring in some babies, they may not be able to get immediate medical treatment at hospitals in times of disaster.

Given the situation, an instruction manual in Japanese was attached to liquid formula when it was handed out to people in Hokkaido.

"Babies should basically get nutrients from breast milk," an official of the Tokyo metropolitan government said. "When people need to use it (liquid formula), for example, in times of disaster, we want them to shake it well, feed it to their babies immediately after opening the package and throw away any leftovers." Jiji Press