Baby milk manufacturers agree out of court settlement
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《英国医生杂志》
The German company Humana Milchunion, which makes baby food, has agreed to an out of court settlement with parents of two Israeli infants who died from, and dozens more who were harmed by, a soya baby formula that it sent to Israel without the vital vitamin B-1 (thiamine) that was marked on the label.
The incident nine months ago shocked Israelis and especially the parents, who said they felt they had unknowingly poisoned their babies by feeding them the kosher formula, which was specially prepared for Israel (BMJ 2003;327:1128 (News Extra, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-i)).
Vitamin B-1 is vital in the development of newborns?central nervous systems; if they are not breast fed and their nutrition is solely dependent on a vitamin deficient formula, they could die or have long term neurological deficits.
Because of an agreement with the Israeli importer, Remedia, the company, in the German town of Herford, did not disclose the exact financial commitment it made, but television reports said that Humana had offered between $16m (?.8m; �13.3m) and $22m to be divided among the families. These sums would make it among Israel抯 largest—and speediest—settlement for a manufacturer's negligence.
揌umana stands by its responsibility as a company in connection with the tragic events in Israel and will act accordingly in the future as well,?Humana said. 揟he management and the employees of Humana feel deep and sincere sympathy with the affected families.?
The German company dismissed four employees whom it blamed for the error. In addition, German prosecutors are investigating one of the workers. Israel抯 police, who questioned employees of Remedia (partly owned by the giant US food company H J Heinz) and others for alleged criminal negligence, is due to make recommendations to the judicial system soon.
It took time for hospital doctors and health ministry epidemiologists to link the deaths of the two infants who died last year to the absence of thiamine. By then, a few dozen more cases of harm had been reported. Fifteen children continue to have serious problems, including a 1 year old girl who is growing but has convulsions and respiratory problems and cannot move her limbs or communicate with her family.
Parents said the money offered by Humana would help them to provide treatments and buy special equipment for their babies, whose long term health and future is unknown.
Since the story broke, Israel抯 health ministry has changed the classification of baby foods; they are now classed as pharmaceuticals, and their contents must therefore be strictly tested before marketing.(Jerusalem Judy Siegel-Itz)
The incident nine months ago shocked Israelis and especially the parents, who said they felt they had unknowingly poisoned their babies by feeding them the kosher formula, which was specially prepared for Israel (BMJ 2003;327:1128 (News Extra, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-i)).
Vitamin B-1 is vital in the development of newborns?central nervous systems; if they are not breast fed and their nutrition is solely dependent on a vitamin deficient formula, they could die or have long term neurological deficits.
Because of an agreement with the Israeli importer, Remedia, the company, in the German town of Herford, did not disclose the exact financial commitment it made, but television reports said that Humana had offered between $16m (?.8m; �13.3m) and $22m to be divided among the families. These sums would make it among Israel抯 largest—and speediest—settlement for a manufacturer's negligence.
揌umana stands by its responsibility as a company in connection with the tragic events in Israel and will act accordingly in the future as well,?Humana said. 揟he management and the employees of Humana feel deep and sincere sympathy with the affected families.?
The German company dismissed four employees whom it blamed for the error. In addition, German prosecutors are investigating one of the workers. Israel抯 police, who questioned employees of Remedia (partly owned by the giant US food company H J Heinz) and others for alleged criminal negligence, is due to make recommendations to the judicial system soon.
It took time for hospital doctors and health ministry epidemiologists to link the deaths of the two infants who died last year to the absence of thiamine. By then, a few dozen more cases of harm had been reported. Fifteen children continue to have serious problems, including a 1 year old girl who is growing but has convulsions and respiratory problems and cannot move her limbs or communicate with her family.
Parents said the money offered by Humana would help them to provide treatments and buy special equipment for their babies, whose long term health and future is unknown.
Since the story broke, Israel抯 health ministry has changed the classification of baby foods; they are now classed as pharmaceuticals, and their contents must therefore be strictly tested before marketing.(Jerusalem Judy Siegel-Itz)