Shia baby - food supplement for infants and young children.

Shia baby?

The 'Shia baby' brand is named after the owner's daughter whose name bears the meaning of

"God bless" or "God bestows" giving it a sense of good tidings for which the owner feels 'Shia baby' (a food supplement for infants and young children) may have to offer in terms of how it can be of benefit to infants and young children alike.

Shia baby was borne out of the need to cater for infants who are allergic to cow's milk or soymil k - an allergy afflicting Shia herself. Shia baby is a new product and the first of its kind in liquid form. We are the first to obtain Thai FDA approval for this product (Permit No. 83-1-06354-1-0001) premised on the following:

1. it is a dietary supplement for infants and young children.
2. it is a medical food type.
3. it is a diet formula for young children.

(each premise with its own sets of conditions and requirements).

Shia baby is registered as a food supplement for infants and young children in accordance with the Ministry of Health Notification No.158 (2537), the details can be summarized as follows.

Food Supplement for Infants and Young Children.

Whereas it is expedient to revise the notification of food supplements for children,
by virtue of Section 5 and Section 6 (a) (2) (4) (5) (6) (7) and (10) of the Food Act 2522, the Minister of Public Health notified as follows:

Article 1 Food supplements for infants and young children is a controlled food.

Article 2 Food supplement for infants and young children has the meaning of value-added and familiar food for babies from 6 months to 12 months, children aged 1 year to 3 years; there are 6 types.

Article 3 Food supplement for infants and young children must have the following qualities:

3.1 has the unique flavor of foods for infants and young children.

3.2 has one of the following characteristics:

3.2.1 in powdery or dry form not in lumps with regards to dry food supplement for infants and young children and when mixed according to the instructions listed on the label, must be soft and suitable for feeding with a spoon.
3.2.2 homogeneously mixed or with minute lumps suitable for feeding with a spoon with regards to liquid food supplement for infants and young children.
3.2.3 other manner or form as may be approved by the Food and Drug Administration Board.
3.3 has type and quantities of nutrients as approved by the Food and Drug Administration Board.

For more information, please contact the Food and Drug Administration office.

Birth of 'Shia baby'

'Shia', the owner's daughter (her nickname is 'Shia') was born allergic to cow's milk and soy milk which the doctors diagnose as an allergy to the protein lactose and soy protein. When she consumes cow's milk she will have a bad stomach, hard faeces and on top of that, a round red patch sort of like an itchy rash on her cheeks almost like a red birthmark - it also occurs as a blister on the neck. This happened when Shia was about 2 to 3 months old.

So we turned to soy milk but she faced the same allergic reactions. Only this time, small red spots were evident throughout her body so we decided to do a blood test at the hospital. But the test results were unclear so the doctor recommended that Shia stop drinking cow's milk or soy milk. We tried milk alternatives for children but they didn't taste good and the child stopped drinking.

But since there was no choice, she had to bear with it. Again there were symptoms - on further checks, it appeared that this alternative milk product used soy bean oils in its preparation. We had no choice but to find something that had no trace of cow's milk, soy milk or oils. Hard to find, expensive, difficult to order and not tasty - good thing the mother was able to breast feed still. That meant that she had to go on a strict diet free of cow's milk and soy milk proteins to avoid traces appearing in breast milk! So no cow's milk or soy milk for the mum too!

Difficult as it may be for the mother to restrict her diet, the doctor warned that if left unattended, the child's symptoms could worsen and he or she may not be able to consume even rice or other food with the possibility of blood disorders. Shia's mum persevered. It seemed to work and the child responded positively.

We decided to work on and test a liquid formula or drink so Shia could at least consume and feel full without allergic reactions. The doctor did say that she would outgrow the allergy as she grows up. Meanwhile we had to come up with something that she could take that would replace what's missing from not drinking cow's milk or soy milk. We came up with the 'Shia baby' food supplement for infants and young children. We are not able to call it 'milk' (as that is reserved by the FDA for food with cow's milk or soy milk as a component) but rather a supplement to the "cereal beverage" which may be consumed by infants from 6 months old; Shia herself began at 5 months.

We added vegetables and fruits to the usual cereal mix to arrive at the 'Shia baby' formula and Shia herself loved it! We experimented further by varying the portions of vegetable and fruit in the mix by applying both contemporary and traditional prescriptions, selecting the right natural produce suitable for infants, some with medicinal properties like gourd (cucurbita) which can alleviate stomach discomfort or nausea while easing bowel movements.

The nutrients of cereal, fruit and vegetables are also rich in minerals and lots of vitamins that are beneficial to infants. For example, vitamins give strength, a radiant complexion and good eyesight whilst calcium helps build strong bones and teeth! Research shows there are more than 30 types of nutrients that prove beneficial like vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B12, C, D, E and K in addition to calcium, phosphorous, magnesium apart from iodine, GABA and choline. Perhaps less than found in cow's milk but makes for easier absorption by comparison which is one of the reasons why some infants on cow's milk have stomach trouble, hard faeces leading to all sorts of allergic reactions.

The evidence stems from research in a number institutions:

Institute of Medical Sciences
Research Institute, University of Agriculture
Research Institute, Mahidol University.

From what we now know of the essential and important nutrients for infants and young children, the 'Shia baby' formula is indeed a valuable drink for children aged from 6 months up to 3 years - especially so for infants and young children who are allergic to cow's and soy milk or soy oils mixture. As Shia's parents we know and are immensely pleased to be able to share our findings and resultant Shia baby food supplement alternative with other parents who wish for healthy and strong growth in their kids.

The above relates our journey with Shia culminating in the production of a valuable food supplement in 'Shia baby'! Please let us know what you think - we would love to hear from you!

'Shia baby' is founded and produced by Shia International Co., Ltd. located at 26 / 5 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn, Thalang, Phuket 83110. All rights reserved. Please contact 076-615583, 076-615581 or fax at 076-527854, 076-615581 or by email: info@shiababy.com or tarayu_l@hotmail.com for more information.