Traces of date rape drug detected in European baby food

Some brands of organic baby food have been recalled across Europe after traces of a date rape drug were found in some batches.

apple pear_Atropine and scopolamine were detected in several varieties of porridge from Swiss brands Holle and Lebenswert.

The chemicals, which are naturally occurring, can make babies sick.

“Consumption…may cause short-term adverse effects, for example, dilated pupils, change of heart rate, dryness of the mouth, constipation, urinary retention and flushed skin,” the Food Safety Authority of Ireland said Friday.

There wouldn’t be any long-term health effects after the chemicals are expelled from the body.

Scopolamine is a plant derivative that can induce a hypnosis-like state, hallucinations and euphoria as well as impair memory.

Last year, the U.S. National Institutes of Health said it was becoming the “assault-chemical of choice.”

Atropine is a closely related chemical that can also cause hallucinations.

milletHolle Baby Food GmbH Serviceburo is recalling the Holle branded and Lebenswert branded baby foods listed below due to the presence of atropine and scopolamine.  These chemicals are undesirable plant constituents. In-store recall notices should be displayed in outlets that sold the affected products.

The recalled products are:

Holle Organic Millet Porridge Apple-Pear (250g);
Holle Organic Millet Porridge with Rice (250g);
Holle Organic Milk Porridge Millet (250g);
Holle Organic Holle Organic 3-Grain Porridge (250g);
Millet and Rice Whole Wheat Porridge (Lebenswert bio Hirse & Reis Vollkornbrei).
All batch codes, all best before dates.