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Comment by floodle | Hacker News Reader

There is some debate about whether or not to prepare formula with 70C/160F water.

The NHS in the UK for example, says to do so (under "Reducing the risk of infection"):

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/breastfeeding-and-bottle-...

However some, in particular Emily Oster, argue that the risk is negligible and that having an overly complicated set of steps for tired parents to follow is counter-productive:

https://archive.is/c5lC5

From my understanding the current general advice from public health authorities is to use 70C/160F water.

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I'm not trying to argue it.

I left my original comment as a fun anecdote in response to another fun anecdote. In reality, I think it's probably not a good idea to cook food in hot asphalt but didn't feel that really needed to be said, so didn't say it. (How many people are even going to have the opportunity to try that?) Now I am feeling like perhaps it does need to be said and cringing in anticipation of people hating on me for saying it and thereby raining on their party.

I looked up the info rather than go "citation needed." My children are grown. They have already survived whatever mistakes I made in raising them and life has changed, so some of what I did worked just fine at the time but is no longer a good idea.

I provided citations and accurate information to the best of my ability and as neutrally as I knew how in the interest of promoting food safety for people currently or in the future in need of actually feeding babies.

I was quoting the staff at the hospital and took their word as granted. It also says so on the box of our Hipp formula powder box (the one meant for 0-6 month old kids).

I am also a bit pragmatic and think that it’s most likely not dangerous. But I liken it to using a seat belt. You don’t need it until you crash.

If I was unlucky and my kid got really sick because I was lazy with water handling I would feel bad.

Your second link makes a very strong argument against boiling water due to the minimal risk posed by unboiled water. Comparing it to putting your child in a car.

The recommendation appears to be just another attempt by the government to coddle and infantilize (no pun intended) their constituents.

I mean, it's not like they're making it illegal, or actually investigating people doing it. I think it's a great thing that we have governmental organizations that are dedicated towards understanding and disseminating health and safety information. I will agree that they can go too far but just recommending extra heating of water that goes into infant food on a website is ridiculously inconsequential when compared with actual governmental overreach. Someone doesnt want babies to die. I think as long as it stays in the realm of pure information and not legislation, it's much better to go a little to far than not far enough.

Unless of course you were being sarcastic, in which case i recommend denoting it as such.

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