Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
1363 Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health his plans in relation to the findings of a person (details supplied) that fluoridated water should not be given to infants due to harmful health effects; the action he has taken to warn parents of these health risks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19023/12]
View answerI understand that the person referred to by the Deputy advises that if a child is exclusively consuming infant formula reconstituted with fluoridated water, there is an increased potential for mild dental fluorosis. Nevertheless he advises that fluoridated water can be used for preparing infant formula.
The question of whether infants receive too much fluoride in their early months through infant formula reconstituted with fluoridated water has been addressed in a risk assessment carried out by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) (2004) and by research carried out at University College Cork (2006). The FSAI risk assessment concluded that there was no significant evidence that any adverse effect other than dental fluorosis was relevant to the assessment of the risk of fluoride intake at levels within the range estimated for young infants. It also concluded that the risk of dental fluorosis was very low. A research project was subsequently conducted in University College Cork to investigate formula feeding practices in infants. The results of the study confirmed the results of the FSAI risk assessment. Since these studies were carried out the level of fluoride in public water supplies has been reduced from 0.8-1 mg per litre to 0.6-0.8 mg per litre as provided for in the Fluoridation of Water Supplies Regulations 2007. Based on these findings and on the scientific evidence available, the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health recommends that infant formula should continue to be reconstituted with boiled tap water in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions or alternatively ready-to-feed infant formula can be used.
