Some new warnings about baby formula are surfacing in Scotland. A report over the weekend suggests that extra precautions are necessary in preparation and highlights new guidelines aimed at lowering the risk of food poisoning in babies.

The advice has been issued by food standards watchdogs amid mounting concern that formula milk is being contaminated with salmonella and other potentially deadly bacteria.

... Many parents make up a day's worth of formula milk, often using tepid water from a kettle. The milk is then kept in the fridge and warmed up when needed.

But while this is undoubtedly convenient, a panel of experts from the European Food Safety Authority have concluded it is potentially risky. They believe babies could be at risk of infection from salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii micro-organisms, if milk feeds are made in advance and stored.

The Food Standards Agency has issued this:

• Feeds should be made using boiled water that has cooled to no less than 70°C;

• Each feed should be made fresh because storing made-up formula milk could increase the chance of a baby becoming ill;

• Parents should keep water they have just boiled in a sealed flask, ready to make up fresh formula milk.

Although infections from baby milk are rare, they do happen.

Liz Spiers, who is embroiled in a legal wrangle with formula milk manufacturers, put her daughter Amy straight on to bottles when she was born nine years ago.

Despite being born healthy, Amy was infected with Enterobacter sakazakii, which led to meningitis, and she was left badly brain-damaged.

Spiers, from Stranraer, who blames baby formula for the infection, said: "I made up the bottles as instructed by the midwife and left them in the fridge.

"Amy was only a few days old when she became ill. She was sleepless, whimpering and sick and we took her back to hospital. They diagnosed the infection and she was put on antibiotics.

"She was left with severe brain damage. She can't walk or talk. I believe the infection came from the milk. Warnings should be put on the tins. Parents need to know the risks."

Apparently some formula makers are reluctant to add warnings advising the new requirement to boil water above 70C (158F) due to fears of increasing the risk of burns.