Baby food company charged after deaths

A PHARMACEUTICAL company facing prosecution over the supply of contaminated feed for premature babies has pledged to “vigorously defend” the case.

ITH Pharma is facing seven counts of supplying a medicinal product which was not of the nature or quality specified in the prescription, and with failing to take all reasonably practicable steps to ensure that patients were not infected by contaminants.

An investigation was launched after three babies died and another 20 needed treatment when they contracted septicaemia in 2014.

The charges announced by the Metropolitan Police are linked to seven babies, including three who died, who were given the fluid as nutrition because they were unable to feed on their own between May 27 and June 2 2014.

One of the deaths – that of nineday-old Yousef Al-Kharboush – was found to be linked to the feed, while the other two fatalities were found not to be linked to the product, although the fluid provided for them was allegedly contaminated.

Yousef ’s parents said they have been living “with an open wound that will not close” and have found it “impossible to move on while the case is ongoing”.

Yousef and his twin brother, Abdulilah, were born by emergency Caesarean section at St Thomas’ Hospital in London at 32 weeks gestation in May 2014.

While in intensive care they were both fed intravenously, but while Abdulilah was not affected, Yousef contracted septicaemia.

Their father, Raaid Sakkijha, said: “It has been like living with an open wound that will not close.”

Representatives of ITH Pharma are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 17.

The company said it would “vigorously defend this case”.