LABOUR MEP NESSA Childers is condemning a vote by the European Parliament which defeated her objection to a health claim by a baby milk manufacturer.

Mead Johnson, which produces the Enfamil range, claims one of its synthesised ingredients – fatty acid DHA – can improve a child’s eyesight. However Childers says that the claim is not backed up by scientific evidence, and that synthesised DHA is different to the fatty acid found naturally in breast milk which is found to help the development of children’s eyes. Childers says scientific evidence on synthesised DHA is inconclusive.

She slammed today’s vote, saying:

This is a defeat for families with young babies, and I am disappointed many conservative MEPs have stood with big business interests on this issue. The vote opens the door to further aggressive marketing on food products, which are not backed up by sound scientific evidence.

Nessa Childers brought the resolution before the European parliament along with three other MEPs, and while the majority voted for it, it did not receive the necessary absolute majority.