Ingredient found in milk products like baby formula could cause allergic reaction warns AVA and MOH

The Health Ministry and the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority in a joint statement that an ingredient, galacto-oligosaccharide (GOS), used in some milk formula here has been found to cause allergies in rare cases. The carbohydrate is usually added to help promote good bacteria in the gut and is found in milk products and in popular baby formula brands like Similac, which are sold here.

Since 2007, about two cases of GOS allergies on average have been reported
each year in Singapore, the joint statement said. All food products containing GOS must be clearly labelled, and the public can find out if a milk product contains GOS by reading the statement of ingredients on the product labels, under the term “galacto-oligosaccharides”, the joint-statement advised.

The following is the joint-statement in full.

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