Infant milk formulae shortage at an end

Press, 4 November 1983, Page 3

Infant milk formulae shortage at an end

A shortage of infant milk formulae in New Zealand is almost over. Production problems at the New Zealand Co-op Dairy Company in Hamilton which manufactures all infant formulae in New Zealand, caused a shortage for about six weeks. The public relations manager of the company, Mr Warren Inkster, said yesterday that the production fault had been fixed but there was a long time gap between production, packaging, marketing, and distribution of the formulae.

Although production was back to normal and supplies were on the way, one brand was still being rationed in Christchurch. The president of the Canterbury division of the Chemists’ Guild of New Zealand, Mr A. D. Douglas, said that small supplies of En-

famil, in one tin size only, were being rationed among Christchurch chemists from their warehouse. Karitane formula was also only available in one size but there was now “tons” of S.M.A. in Christchurch, he said. The Christchurch area nurse adviser for Plunket, Mrs Shona Taylor, said that some mothers had to change brands of formula when supplies of their usual brands ran out.

Many of the infant formulae were similar and most babies should be able to change from one to another without becoming upset. “Some may get upset, though. There are always the exceptions,” she said.

Mrs Taylor warned that parents should follow the mixing directions of formulae closely as the various

brands had different mix rates. A baby could easily become upset if the mixture was incorrect.

If in doubt, parents should dilute the solution a little to give the baby a chance to become accustomed to the change, she said. The managing director of Bristol-Myers (N.Z.), Ltd, which markets Enfamil, Mr P. Chilton, said yesterday that the company was “over the hump” in shortages of the formula. He said it was understandable that there had been shortages but it had not been a case of “holding it all in Auckland and not letting Christchurch have any. “There have been shortages all over New Zealand.” An increase in demand for Enfamil in Christchurch had worsened the shortage, said Mr Chilton.