SINGAPORE – Some milk formulas sold in Singapore have been found to contain an ingredient that might cause rare cases of allergic reactions, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA).
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday (July 12), the agencies said that the allergic reactions are linked to the consumption of products with galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), found in some milk formulas.
Since 2007, about two cases of GOS allergies have been reported each year in Singapore. According to MOH and AVA, all the cases have a history of atopy or allergic conditions such as eczema, allergic rhinitis or asthma, and were found to be sensitised to house dust mites.
To date, there have been no reported cases of infants under the age of two who are allergic to GOS.
Sources of GOS include milk formulas for infants, children and pregnant or lactating mothers and symptoms of a GOS allergy include respiratory problems like runny nose, cough, chest tightness, hives and itch, and diarrhoea.
GOS is a carbohydrate added in foods to promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut to help maintain a healthy digestive system. Many countries, including Singapore, have approved the use of GOS in food products as it has been evaluated to be safe for human consumption.
The statement said that healthy individuals with no history of any allergy are not likely to develop allergic reactions due to the consumption of GOS. Consumers who have previously consumed, or who are currently consuming GOS products with no allergic reactions, are highly unlikely to have GOS allergy.
The agencies said that they will continue to closely monitor the situation.
Advice for consumers
MOH and AVA said that all food products containing GOS must be clearly labelled. Product labels should be read to find out if a milk product contains GOS.
Consumers with a history of atopy or allergic conditions such as asthma, allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis (eczema) are advised to exercise vigilance when consuming products containing GOS for the first time.
An allergic reaction to GOS could take from minutes to hours within ingestion for symptoms to appear and those who encounter an allergic reaction should seek medical attention.
Seek immediate medical treatment from the nearest hospital, if a severe reaction develops (e.g. difficulties in breathing or giddiness and/or loss of consciousness).
stephluo@sph.com.sg
