Using formula not worth risk: Mother

Gemma Hart, 24, is not buying formula for her 14-month-old daughter following a threat to contaminate products with 1080 poison. Photo / John Stone

A Northland mum said she won't be buying her daughter formula after a threat was made to contaminate infant powder and other formula with 1080 poison. Other Northland parents are also avoiding infant products, as the Government and Fonterra assures people the product is safe.

Social media discussion on the Northern Advocate's Facebook page also expressed anger at the targeting of children.

Police would not say where the threat originated from but Federated Farmers confirmed it received an anonymous letter accompanied by an enclosed plastic bag containing a powder, addressed to chief executive Graham Smith, at its Wellington offices in late November. The threat protested the use of 1080 poison in pest control and said baby formula would be laced with 1080 if the Government did not stop using it as pest control by the end of March.

Gemma Hart, 24, switched her now 14-month-old daughter to formula when she was 7 weeks old after Ms Hart was not expressing enough milk. The mother of one said she was shocked when she found out about the threat. "I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe someone could even think of doing that and causing children harm."

Dr Pat Tuohy, chief adviser of health from the Ministry of Health, said parents could reassure themselves of the safety of formula. Ms Hart said despite this, and supermarkets tightening security, any risk was not worth it. "They are innocent kids. It's a child, it's a life, it's not worth it," she said.

Ms Hart said because of Zoey's age she would be switching her to alternative milk such as rice or cow's milk. However she said some parents weren't able to do the same. "I work at a daycare and we've got it [information] at the front so parents can see, and quite a lot of them are like well 'what are we going to do?' I feel sorry for people who can't switch their kids because of their age and some parents aren't able to breastfeed."

Ms Hart said she was frustrated the public was not informed earlier. " ... it would have been better if they let people know earlier even if there's only a slight risk."

Mr Tuohy encouraged parents with concerns to check products for tampering. Security has also been stepped up at Fonterra's milk powder plants at Kauri and Maungaturoto. Parents with any concerns can call Plunketline on 0800 933 922 or Healthline on 0800 611 116 for advice.