Remedia is popular among Orthodox Jews in Israel

Because news of the problem coincided with the Sabbath,
during which the movements of Orthodox Jews are restricted,
health authorities took the unusual step of hiring Arabs to drive
to Orthodox neighbourhoods and spread the warning by loudhailer.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/3257517.stm
Deaths spark soy baby milk fears

Remedia is popular among Orthodox Jews in Israel

A brand of soy-based formula feed has been
recalled in Israel after three babies died and
others were left seriously ill.

The "Remedia" milk, sold as a Kosher fomula feed,
may have been lacking a vitamin vital to brain development.

Thousands of Israeli babies are thought to have
been given the feed, which is also thought to be
popular in orthodox Jewish communities in the US.

Food giant Heinz, which owns a stake in the
Israeli firm that manufactures it, was said to
be "very concerned".

There is no firm proof yet that the absence
of the vitamin, B1, from the feed was the
 reason behind the deaths and illnesses.

Two of the babies who died had other illnesses
that might have contributed to their deaths, said doctors.

A deficiency of B1 in infancy can cause
a condition called Beri-Beri, which can kill.

Parents of children given the formula have
been urged to take their babies to the doctor
for booster shots of the vitamin.

Robbie Steinberg, an Israeli health ministry
spokesman, described the warning issued
as a "precaution".

However, the ministry confirmed that legal action
may be taken against the manufacturer, which is
carrying out its own investigation.

Investigation


Three are said to be critical,
another seven are in hospital,
and a further 10 cases are under investigation.

The formula is made for Remedia by
Humana Milchunion, a German company.

Heinz is a majority stakeholder in Remedia,
but a spokesman said that Remedia was not
a Heinz brand although the company was
"very sympathetic and concerned".

News of the possible risk triggered widespread
alarm in Israel, with an estimated 20,000 people
calling hotlines for more information, it was reported.

Spreading the news

Because news of the problem coincided with the Sabbath,
during which the movements of Orthodox Jews are restricted,
health authorities took the unusual step of hiring Arabs to drive
to Orthodox neighbourhoods and spread the warning by loudhailer.

The Food and Drug Administration in the
US is looking into the issue, as Jewish
communities there also use Remedia.

It is reported that the formula has been
taken off shelves in heavily Orthodox Jewish
neighborhoods in New York.

There are also reports that a baby who had
been fed the milk substitute was in serious
condition in a Boston hospital -
although these have not been
confirmed by an official agency.

A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency
in the UK confirmed that Remedia was not
marketed in this country.

In a statement Remedia says it sent a team to
the formula's manufacturer in Germany to work
out how this may have happened.

The company has also taken out full page
advertisements in Israeli newspapers saying
that it is doing everything it can to arrive at
the truth as quickly as possible.