Secretary for Food & Health Dr Ko Wing-man said 98 babies had had blood tests taken, after reports that some infant formulae has a low iodine content that may harm infants. Among the 77 completed, one was found to be abnormal.
Speaking after a radio programme today, Dr Ko said a paediatrician will follow up the case to seek the cause.
He said the Department of Health hotline to provide information on infant formulae brands has so far received more than 3,000 calls.
Dr Ko gave assurances that the Government would spare no effort in speeding up the legislative initiative to ensure there will be legislation in place soon to control the nutrition requirements for all baby formulae.
He said before the legislation comes into effect, the Government will use a code of practice to promote breastfeeding, control of nutrition requirements, and labeling of infant formulae.
Regarding the clean-up of plastic pellets on beaches and at sea, Dr Ko said the amount of plastic pellets recovered from Hong Kong beaches has fallen from a daily average of one to two tonnes to a few hundred kilogrammes.
With the stepping up of cleaning initiatives and efforts by the Food & Environmental Hygiene Department, Civil Aid Service volunteers, environmental groups and volunteers, he hoped the clean-up operation will be largely completed in the coming one to two weeks.
Dr Ko added that the Food Safety Centre had so far taken more than 200 fish samples and found no plastic pellets in them.
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