World
Australia: Three Children Died from Severe Iron Deficiency Linked to Cow's Milk
Three young children in Queensland died over two years from severe iron deficiency anaemia caused by consuming more than one litre of cow's milk daily, according to Dr Sally Campbell, a haematologist at Queensland Children's Hospital. Visits to emergency departments for severe iron deficiency in the state more than doubled between 2020 and 2025. A study of nearly 10,000 children in Perth found that over half of three-year-olds have low iron levels. Doctors recommend no cow's milk for babies under one year and no more than 500 ml daily for children aged 1–5.