Little could I expect the gingantesca Nestlé that one of its most prestigious infant formulas should give it (the "Gold" and the color of the packaging show that it is a commitment to quality), Nestlé NAN HA 1 Gold, is being criticized by hundreds of parents in Australia for affecting the health of their children.
The symptoms that have been described to date are skin rashes, constant crying, dehydration, vomiting and greenish and watery poops that, apparently, have appeared in many children since Nestlé decided to change the composition for a "new and improved".
The first criticisms
One of the first people who complained about this was the mother of a boy named Oliver, who contacted Nestle when he observed that after taking the new formula his son suffered a “nasty eczema". A customer service representative told him that It is common for reactions when a baby begins to take a new formula and to apologize for the inconvenience he offered a $ 50 gift voucher.
Other parents have commented that since their children take the new formula they cannot finish the bottle, when before they took it without problems, that their children are sick, more irritable than ever, or that their poops have changed and they even vomit often.
Nestle responds
Nestlé External Relations Manager Margaret Stuart has explained that they performed the relevant tests when changing calcium chloride to potassium chloride in the composition of the formula and has stated the following:
The tests showed no indication that the formula could cause the reactions that the parents describe.
Stuart added that, as parents' concerns are taken very seriously, they have decided to do new tests with the Nestlé NAN HA 1 Gold in an independent laboratory in Australia. These new analyzes are not yet finalized, but preliminary results of the microbiological profile indicate that there is no food safety problem.
Despite this, criticism continues to increase and parents continue to complain about horrible nights with their children, constant cries, changes in poops, increased gas, etc.
Will it be true? Will the nocebo effect be?
The analyzes and tests carried out by Nestlé and by the independent laboratory show, for the moment, that there is no problem with the new formula, however many parents are complaining of very annoying and obvious symptoms.
The important thing logically is demonstrate the causality of all of them. I do not rule out that some children do not feel bad about the new composition of the formula ("when the river sounds ..."), but I doubt that all the problems of these children actually come from milk.
It is not that I want to defend Nestlé, much less, although I trust that they carry out very rigorous quality controls. The issue is that many children have good days and bad days and when (for example) they ask us to the toilets, we usually respond with hypotheses that range from heat, teeth, a virus or some bad day until you go to know why.
In the same way that when a 4-8 month old baby has a bad night or eats his fists like a madman, it is said that “they are the teeth”, many parents will have found in the milk that their children take the cause of their discomforts. For example: "Honey, look, here they say that children who take Nestle Gold cry a lot, make funny poops and vomit ... our baby has had those symptoms, is this the milk we give him?" "No, Manuel, our son takes one that is neither Nestlé nor Gold." "Ah, then it will be something else ..."
We will be attentive in case new news about it appears. Do any of our readers give this artificial milk to your babies? Have you noticed the symptoms described? As I say, complaints have only appeared in Australia, but I ask, just in case.
Upgrade: The Australian food authorities (NSW: Food Autorithy) have contacted Nestlé worried about what happened. Nestlé has provided the data of its results and those of the independent laboratory (apparently the analyzes must have been completed already) and with all the data reviewed the NSW asserts in a statement that there is no risk for babies to consume. In addition, he adds that when there is a change of formula it may be normal for children to suffer some symptoms and suggests that, if so, contact health professionals to assess a formula change.
