Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep concerns grow as couple claim their baby was hospitalised THREE times after using machine
Dad claims his 14-month-old son was 'breathing like a dog' after drinking milk from the machine
A DESPAIRING couple claim their formula baby milk machine has caused their child to be hospitalised three times with severe breathing problems.
Anthony Granner and Jenny Tarplee's allegations add to a string of complaints from parents who believe the Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep machine is making their child ill.
Anthony stopped using the kit after he found what he thought was mould in its pipes,
He claims his 14-month-old son Kobie was back to full health within weeks of them stopping using it.
Tommee Tippee have stressed that the residue spotted by Anthony and Jenny is harmless carbon deposits.
Anthony said: "I spotted what looked like mould, but the company say it's carbon residue.
"When we inspected the stuff, it was fibrous.
"Carbon residue is not fibrous."
Kobie has suffered breathing problems since birth, but his parents claim his condition worsened three months ago after they started using the machine.
He was taken to the Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, where he spent two days.
He was given an inhaler and steroids but had to be rushed back to hospital a week later.
Anthony, who lives with his family in Kingstanding in north Birmingham, said: "Kobie just wasn't improving.
"His breathing was like a dog's.
"The doctor's thought it was a viral infection."
The youngster was placed on a nebuliser - a device that helps with breathing - and kept in for another two days.
A day after he was released he was returned to hospital for further treatment.
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His parents suspect the Tommee Tippee machine was responsible after reading complaints about the product online.
The firm has said they are investigating the claims made by some of their customers and that is "impossible to determine" if their machine is responsible in the meantime.
They added some parents have said they were not using the recommended "Tommee Tippee filter" before they encountered problems.
Earlier this month mum-of-four Amy Evans, 37, said her baby was left screaming in "pure agony" after using a Tommee Tippee product.
Amy said she believed the machine may have caused "swelling of the stomach" in her daughter Lilly.
Mother Leanne Soulsby said her youngster suffered flu-like symptoms after drinking formula milk from the machine.
Tommee Tippee have said they are now investigating why some of their machines have potentially harmful grime inside.
The firm has posted a statment on their Facebook page which reads: "We were very concerned by these findings and started an immediate investigation.
"To help us, we’d like any parents who have found similar build-up in their Perfect Preps to contact us as soon as possible, so we can arrange to have their machine and filter returned to us via Freepost for examination by an independent laboratory.
"Until they’ve been examined, it’s impossible to determine the exact cause."
His breathing was like a dog's
Anthony Granner on his son's symptoms
In a lengthy response to the Birmingham Mail, Tommee Tippee said: "As soon as we heard about these concerns, we started an investigation, which involved some of the affected machines being examined by an independent lab, speaking to parents and extensive discussions with the filter manufacturer.
“Some parents told us that they had used a non-Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep filter. This is important because other filters do not contain the ultra-filtration antibacterial section needed to remove bacteria, so even one use could lead to bacteria and visible (but harmless) black carbon deposits forming in the pipes.
“If a Tommee Tippee filter is used, we are 100 per cent confident that it is impossible for bacteria to enter the pipework.
“However, we do know that some mums who say they have only ever used the Tommee Tippee filter, are still seeing build-up, and we can now explain why.
“It’s because bacteria could enter the pipes through accidental cross-contamination after the water has passed through the filter. However, it can be remedied with the enhanced cleaning cycle and every-day preventative steps.
“To remove any build-up or carbon deposits, first run the cleaning cycle with a sterilising solution such as Milton or food grade white vinegar. Then run a second cleaning cycle with water as per the normal recommended cleaning cycle instructions.
“This will remove any build-up or carbon deposits and then the machine can continue to be used as normal with confidence.”
The Sun has contacted Tommee Tippee for a comment.