Nutimix allegedly unhealthy for infants

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: The Amrutham Nutrimix powder, advertised as a complete balanced nutritive food for children, is unhealthy for those below two years as it lacks antibiotics recommended for standard baby foods, said Paediatrician Dr Thomas Kurien.

    The powder is produced by Kudumbashree Mission under Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) under State Social Welfare Department.

     It is distributed to the beneficiaries through anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers in the locality. It is a powder mix of ragi, wheat, sugar and soyabean.

     Dr Kurien said, "Amrutham powder is susceptible to fungal contamination and may result in indigestion and diarrhoea. Nevertheless, in order to contain fungal growth, adding preservatives is not advisable as it can cause long-term illness including asthma and allergy."

   However, Kudumbashree Vice-chairperson Indulekha Appukuttan said, "Amrutham has undergone scientific test and was approved by doctors." She mentioned that Institute of Child Health Neonatologist Dr C Jayakumar as one of the doctors who recommend Amrutham Nutrimix for children.

     But when contacted, Dr Jayakumar replied otherwise."It's an utter lie, I had always spoken against the use of supplementary food including Cerelac, Lactogen and Farex. Apart from mother's milk, children under two years should be given only boiled food cooked at home."

    However, Kudumbashree District Vice-Coordinator Ramesh P said, "Amruthum products have undergone quality monitoring and formulation as prescribed by a statutory medical board formed under the Kudumbashree Mission.

Bottle milk replaces breastfeeding

By Sachin Jose

KOTTAYAM: One in three children in Kerala has developed asthma and allergy as the intake of breast milk has come down, said a study of Indian Academy of Pediatricians (IAP).

   According to the study, the use of powder milk and cow's milk is highest in Kerala compared to other states.

   "Each mammal should feed its own baby," said Kottayam Institute of Child Health Neonatologist Dr C Jayakumar. "Humans are the only mammals who suffer from asthma and allergy, which is due to lack of breastfeeding."

   The Infant Milk Substitute Act 2004 prohibits baby-food companies from marketing their products as a single feed of animal or powder milk or even water can result in diarrhoea or pneumonia.

  Nevertheless, Jessy Kunjumon, a working mother, disclosed that she was advised by a nurse to give powder milk to the child as I spend the whole day at office.

   However, another Paediatrician, Dr George F Moolayil, warned, "Working mothers shall store expressed breast milk in bottles for as long as six hours to be fed later. However, There could be chances of being misled by nurses or even gynaecologists as their expertise is different."

   "After IAP began the Baby Friendly Initiative in 1992, the use of baby-food products came down to 17 per cent," he added. "However, there is a reversal of trend in the recent years, which is due to lack of awareness."