Hong Kong health chiefs have urged parents not to feed their babies two brands of Japanese milk formula after they were found to lack the vital nutrient iodine.
The government is offering free check-ups for babies who have been fed the Wakodo and Morinaga brands to see if they suffer from iodine deficiency, which can harm the thyroid gland and affect brain function.
The warning comes after tests on 14 infant formula products found that the two brands, if used as suggested on their labels, provided a daily iodine intake lower than the amount suggested by the World Health Organisation.
Four other brands were below world trade standards but within the WHO levels.
Announcing the findings yesterday, Secretary for Food and Health Dr Ko Wing-man estimated that about 1,000 babies had been fed the two brands of formula, designed for infants under six months.
'Further studies are needed to confirm whether this finding proves that the babies' health will be affected,' Ko said.