PBM Products Donates Formula & Pediatric Drinks to Tsunami Victims

January 25, 2005

The Operation USA cargo plane carries PBM formulas & nutritionals to tsunami victims

GORDONSVILLE, VA—PBM Products, makers of infant formulas with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), the fastest growing infant formula in the United States, announced today that it is donating infant formula and pediatric nutritional drinks to the victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami (tidal wave) disaster. PBM Products contributed its line of infant and pediatric products to a South Asian relief and development program directed by Operation USA, a privately funded organization that has been conducting relief flights and sea and land shipments throughout the world since 1979.

Because of concern over the region’s water supply, PBM Products is mainly donating ready-to-drink products that do not need to be mixed with water. The formula is enriched with DHA and arachidonic acid, two nutrients found in breast milk that aid infant mental and visual d evelopment. The company is also sending quantities of PBM's Pediatric Nutritional Drink for children one to ten years of age, including new PBM's Soy Pediatric Drink, the first soy-based nutritional drink for children with milk allergies or sensitivity.

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 started a series of tsunamis that killed over 225,000 people in twelve countries. Areas hit by the deadliest tsunami in recorded history include Indonesia, Thailand, the north-western coast of Malaysia, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Somalia.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations specialized health agency, estimates that 1.5 million children have been affected or displaced by this natural disaster. An additional five million people are now homeless and need safe drinking water, food supplies, and health services. The organization fears that disease prompted by contaminated water supplies and damaged sanitation systems could result in a similar number of fatalities in the aftermath of the tsunami.

“Our hearts go out to the victims of this terrible tragedy,” said Paul B. Manning, president and CEO of PBM Products. “Since we specialize in food and nutritional offerings, donating ready-to-drink products for infants and children who may not have access to clean drinking water is the least we can do to help with the response.”

On February 2, portions of the PBM Products contribution will be flown from Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on a chartered 747 cargo jet donated by Atlas Air. Emergency airlifts of this nature have been a signature activity of Operation USA for over 25 years. The remaining products will be simultaneously shipped to Sri Lanka and other parts of South Asia. The estimated value of the donation is $250,000.

PBM Products, LLC is a privately owned company based in Gordonsville, Virginia. PBM distributes infant formula, infant foods, pediatric and adult nutritionals, diabetic products, and infant feeding systems. PBM’s family of companies consists of PBM Nutritionals, PBM Pharmaceuticals, PBM Foods, PBM International, and PBM Plastics.

For more information, please contact Joe Shields, Director of Public Relations, at (800) 959-2066 ext. 131, or jshields@pbmproducts.com.