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Is bottled water really unsafe for making up infant formula?
1Liverpool John Moores University.
Summary
Parents can safely prepare infant formula using bottled water, contrary to NHS advice. Healthcare professionals need updated training to provide accurate guidance on safe infant feeding during water supply disruptions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Food Safety
Background:
- The National Health Service (NHS) advises against using bottled water for infant formula preparation.
- Parents may lack safe alternatives during mains water disruptions when bottled water is distributed.
- Healthcare professionals often provide incorrect advice regarding bottled water suitability for infant formula.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the chemical suitability of commonly available bottled waters for infant formula preparation.
- To address the discrepancy between NHS guidance and the actual safety of bottled water.
- To inform healthcare professionals and improve infant feeding safety recommendations.
Main Methods:
- Review of chemical quality data for widely available bottled waters.
- Analysis of current NHS guidance and healthcare professional advice.
- Assessment of risks associated with incorrect infant feeding recommendations.
Main Results:
- Chemical analysis indicates that commonly available bottled waters are suitable for preparing infant formula.
- Healthcare professionals' concerns regarding bottled water are not scientifically justified by water quality data.
- There is a significant gap in NHS information and healthcare professional training on this topic.
Conclusions:
- Bottled water is a safe option for preparing infant formula when mains water is compromised.
- Updated guidance and training for healthcare professionals are urgently needed to ensure infant safety.
- Rectifying information deficits will prevent parental anxiety and reduce risks of unsafe infant feeding practices.
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