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Perfect Prep®
Your questions, answered.
Perfect Prep®
Your questions, answered.
Looking for answers to commonly asked questions about Perfect Prep®? We’ve got you.
Because Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® machines are so innovative and unique, we often get asked about their safety and how they work.
You can rest assured that our Perfect Prep® machines and antibacterial filters go through extensive testing to ensure that they deliver safe feeds, at a perfect speed. We’re confident that our Perfect Prep® machines are safe, and here are the four key reasons why…
Antibacterial filter – as safe as boiling the kettle.
The water in a Perfect Prep® machine passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities using an ultra-filtration membrane.
This specially designed membrane has openings that are smaller than bacteria, and therefore forms a physical barrier that stops any bacteria passing into the machine, or the prepared bottle feed.
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters are as effective as boiling the kettle when it comes to removing bacteria, and this has been tested and verified by an independent laboratory.
Patented hot shot – always at least 70°C.
Perfect Prep® machines have a patented hot shot to kill any bacteria that might be in the formula powder. This hot shot is always dispensed at an absolute minimum temperature of 70°C.
The temperature of the hot shot is ensured during manufacturing.
Since we launched Perfect Prep in 2013, every individual machine has been tested in actual use, and the hot shot temperature measured on two different feed size settings.
Any machine not passing these temperature tests is rejected.
100% bacteria free.
The temperature of our hot shot has been assessed by an independent, certified laboratory. The lab replicated how a feed would be made using a Perfect Prep® machine at home, using formula powder that had been open for 4 weeks.
Most manufacturers recommend that formula should be used within 4 weeks of opening, so this replicated a worst-case home use scenario.
The prepared bottles were tested for all forms of bacteria, and every sample was 100% bacteria-free.
Perfect body temperature feeds.
Perfect Prep® machines are engineered to ensure baby bottles are safely made at the perfect temperature, every time.
The hot shot (that’s always at least 70°C), and the second dispense of cool, filtered water, are precisely calibrated to deliver a body temperature formula feed at the selected volume.
With Perfect Prep®, there is no risk of hot spots in the formula, and no risk of it not having cooled enough before it is used.
Antibacterial filter – as safe as boiling the kettle.
The water in a Perfect Prep® machine passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities using an ultra-filtration membrane.
This specially designed membrane has openings that are smaller than bacteria, and therefore forms a physical barrier that stops any bacteria passing into the machine, or the prepared bottle feed.
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters are as effective as boiling the kettle when it comes to removing bacteria, and this has been tested and verified by an independent laboratory.
Patented hot shot – always at least 70°C.
Perfect Prep® machines have a patented hot shot to kill any bacteria that might be in the formula powder. This hot shot is always dispensed at an absolute minimum temperature of 70°C.
The temperature of the hot shot is ensured during manufacturing.
Since we launched Perfect Prep in 2013, every individual machine has been tested in actual use, and the hot shot temperature measured on two different feed size settings.
Any machine not passing these temperature tests is rejected.
100% bacteria free.
The temperature of our hot shot has been assessed by an independent, certified laboratory. The lab replicated how a feed would be made using a Perfect Prep® machine at home, using formula powder that had been open for 4 weeks.
Most manufacturers recommend that formula should be used within 4 weeks of opening, so this replicated a worst-case home use scenario.
The prepared bottles were tested for all forms of bacteria, and every sample was 100% bacteria-free.
Perfect body temperature feeds.
Perfect Prep® machines are engineered to ensure baby bottles are safely made at the perfect temperature, every time.
The hot shot (that’s always at least 70°C), and the second dispense of cool, filtered water, are precisely calibrated to deliver a body temperature formula feed at the selected volume.
With Perfect Prep®, there is no risk of hot spots in the formula, and no risk of it not having cooled enough before it is used.
Find out more about Perfect Prep® in the drop downs below. If you have any further questions you can’t find the answer to, please contact us.
How does the Perfect Prep® work?
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® machines automatically control the quality, volume and temperature of the water used to make a formula feed using a unique, patented three-stage process.
Once tap water has been added to the hopper, it passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities. The ultra filtration membrane inside forms a physical barrier that stops any bacteria in the tap water from passing into the machine.
Once the water is filtered, the machine is ready to make a feed.
It starts with a ‘hot shot’ of water that’s over 70°C to kill any bacteria that may be in the formula powder, and then completes the bottle feed by dispensing the correct amount of cool water to deliver the selected volume of formula, at body temperature.
Is the Perfect Prep® safe?
Yes. Perfect Prep® machines pass all appropriate standards for electrical baby products and are designed to make the lives of parents simpler.
To ensure safety, Perfect Prep® machines make a fresh formula feed using a unique, patented three-stage process.
Step 1: First, the water used to make the feed passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities. Bacteria are removed using an ultra-filtration membrane which has openings that are smaller than bacteria, and therefore form a physical barrier that stops any bacteria in the tap water from passing into the machine. Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters areas effective as boiling the kettle when it comes to removing bacteria, as tested and verified by an independent laboratory.
Step 2: Once the water is safely purified, a baby bottle containing formula powder is placed on the machine, and ‘hot shot’ of water is dispensed into it. The hot shot is always at least 70°C, so it can kill any bacteria in the formula powder.
Step 3: The Perfect Prep® machine then completes the bottle feed by dispensing a measured quantity of cool water. The machine is perfectly calibrated to ensure that the total volume of the feed is perfect, and that the combination of the patented hot shot and the second dispense results in a body temperature bottle feed.
With Perfect Prep®, you get a safe, fresh feed in less than two minutes, at the perfect temperature, every time.
How does the Perfect Prep® filter work?
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters have three distinct filtration stages.
- First, micromesh (like a sieve but with much smaller holes) removes larger particles, such as sediment and fibres. Any particles like this would not be removed by boiling water in a kettle.
- The water moves into the next section of the filter which contains ion exchange resin and activated carbon. The ion exchange resin removes minerals in the water and softens it to reduce limescale build up. The activated carbon acts like a sponge, removing chlorine, and possible contaminants like pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and herbicides. Again, boiling the kettle would not be as effective, as kettles do not remove such residues.
- Finally, the hollow fibres in the lower section of the filter act as an ultra-filtration membrane. The openings in the fibres are only 0.1 microns. That’s around 250 times smaller than the smallest object visible to the human eye, and 700 times smaller than the diameter of an average human hair. The openings are smaller than bacterial cells, so they can’t fit through, but water can.
Importantly, as part of the manufacturing process every filter is sterilised after it has been sealed, ensuring that it is free of bacteria when it is first used.
Our filter has been tested on numerous occasions by independent, certified laboratories.
For example, in 2022, Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters were tested by a UK laboratory.
Five filters were tested at 50 litre intervals, up to the 150-litre lifespan of the filter. The water used in the tests was intentionally contaminated with three types of bacteria and one type of mould.
Each test resulted in the removal of 100% of those contaminants, demonstrating that our filters are as effective as boiling water when it comes to removing microbes and bacteria from water.
The importance of using Tommee Tippee filters
We are aware that some people are buying standard water jug filters or filters claiming to contain an anti-bacterial membrane, rather than Tommee Tippee filters, to use in their Perfect Prep® machines.
Standard water jug filters generally do not contain an anti-bacterial filtration membrane, so are not safe to use in a Perfect Prep® machine. To understand the efficacy of other filters claiming to have an anti-bacterial membrane, our filter manufacturer had them tested them alongside the official Tommee Tippee filter, in an independent certified laboratory.
The conclusion of these tests showed that none of the claimed compatible filters were as effective as the Tommee Tippee filter in removing bacteria from water.
Test 1: Sterile water was filtered through a Tommee Tippee filter that was fresh out of the packet. Once filtered, the sterile water contained no bacteria.
Sterile water was also filtered through the alternative filters, fresh from the packet. Once it had passed through, this water was shown to contain bacteria.
Test 2: Intentionally contaminated water was passed through the alternative filters, and the filtered water was shown to contain bacteria afterwards, whereas the Tommee Tippee filter removed 100% the bacteria when tested in the same way.
The filters were then stored for several days, and when re-tested, the alternative filters removed even less bacteria. Whereas the Tommee Tippee filters still removed 100% of the bacteria that had been added to the contaminated water, meaning the discrepancy in performance got greater over time.
These tests prove that none of the other filters come close to matching the performance of the Tommee Tippee filter. Therefore, it's extremely important to make sure that you're buying and using Tommee Tippee anti-bacterial filters in your Perfect Prep® machine.
Importance of priming your filter
Prior to fitting your new filter, it needs to be primed properly and the steps for this are as follows:
1. Submerge the filter in cold water for 5 minutes.
2. Firmly tap the side of the filter, to loosen the particles. Following these steps means that the filter will work effectively.
When opening the filter packaging you may find that there is a small amount of black carbon residue in the bag or on the surface of the cartridge; this is normal and it’s nothing to be concerned about.
These food grade certified carbon particles are harmless. They can’t pass through the filter and will be reduced during the initial set up process when submerging in clean fresh water.
How does the hot shot work?
Although food hygiene laws in the UK state that infant formula must not contain certain specified bacteria, manufacturers cannot guarantee that their formula is bacteria free.
Therefore, it’s so important that any bacteria which might be in the formula is killed, and that’s why the Perfect Prep® machine has a patented hot shot.
The hot shot is always at an absolute minimum temperature of 70°C.
The exact temperature depends on the temperature of the filtered water in the machine’s tank, and the hot shot gets hotter as the tank temperature decreases.
This is ensured during manufacturing when every individual machine is tested in actual use and the hot shot temperature is measured on two different feed size settings. Any machine not passing that temperature test is rejected.
We understand you may have been advised to test your Perfect Prep® machine using a food thermometer. Unfortunately, these thermometers are not always sensitive enough to test the temperature effectively. The issue is that the temperature needs to be measured as the water comes out of the machine, but there is not a great enough flow of water to accurately take the temperature given that food thermometers are designed to be fully inserted into the food they are testing. Please rest assured, we have had many machines returned to us by concerned parents for testing and every time we have found the hot shot be to at the correct temperature when tested in our lab with a professionally calibrated instrument.
Hot shot efficacy
Our patented hot shot is there to kill any bacteria that may be present in the formula powder, and to ensure that the prepared feed is as safe as the result which would be achieved by making the feed with boiled water which has cooled to no less than 70°C, the method recommended by the NHS and World Health Organisation (WHO).
The efficacy of our patented hot shot has been assessed by an independent, certified laboratory. These tests were carried out when making a 4oz feed, the machine’ssmallest setting. The4oz feed therefore has the smallest hot shot quantity, and the least amount of heat energy available to kill any bacteria which may be in the formula. If the 4oz hot shot is safe, then we know the larger feed sizesare also safe.
Two scenarios were tested:
- Opened formula powder
The first test replicated how a bottle would be made using a Perfect Prep® machine at home. Formula powder was used which had been open for four weeks. Most formula manufacturers recommend that formula powder should be used within four weeks of opening, so this replicated a worst-case home use scenario. The bottles made were tested for all forms of bacteria, and every sample was entirely bacteria-free.
- Contaminated formula powder
Secondly, the lab prepared formula feeds using a Perfect Prep® machine, but this time the formula powder used was deliberately contaminated with bacteria (including organisms such as E.coli and Salmonella) at a level significantly greater than would be expected in regular use.
Out of 150 samples, more than 99.9% of the bacteria that had been added were eliminated. The lab compared these results against separate tests it had previously carried out with contaminated formula powder where bottles were made using the NHS/WHO method. In those tests the bacterial reduction rate was also less than 100%. Overall, the lab concluded that there was a comparable level of bacterial reduction between the Perfect Prep and NHS/WHO tests.
In conclusion, our patented hot shot has been proven to be just as safe as the NHS/WHO method (in both realistic home use and lab conditions with intentional bacterial contamination).
You can read the summary report from the lab here.
Does Perfect Prep® prepare a bottle feed in accordance with NHS/WHO guidelines, and which method is safer?
Perfect Prep® machines are designed to achieve the same result as following the World Health Organisation guidelines.
The World Health Organisation guidelines were designed for making up a feed without a Perfect Prep® machine, and state that boiled water that’s cooled for no more than 30 minutes, should be used. Perfect Prep® machines are designed to produce the same safe formula feed, but more quickly and conveniently. This saves time for parents and frustration for their baby, without compromising on safety.
This step-by-step comparison of Perfect Prep® and the formula preparation method recommended by the NHS/WHO compares the relative safety of the two approaches.
NHS/WHO Method Perfect Prep® Safety Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water (do not use water that has been boiled before). Make sure the hopper of your machine is filled with tap water. Not relevant. Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70°C. Perfect Prep® filters tap water. The Perfect Prep® filter removes more possible contaminants than boiling. Clean and disinfect the surface you are going to use. No difference. Not relevant. It's important that you wash your hands. No difference. Not relevant. If you are using a cold-water steriliser, shake off any excess solution from the bottle and the teat, or rinse them with cooled boiled water from the kettle (not tap water). No difference. Not relevant. Stand the bottle on the cleaned, disinfected surface. No difference. Not relevant. Follow the manufacturer's instructions and pour the amount of water you need into the bottle. Double check that the water level is correct. Always put the water in the bottle first, while it is still hot, before adding the powdered formula. Once formula powder has been added, the patented hot shot is dispensed to kill bacteria.
Shake the bottle to dissolve the powder.
Perfect Prep® then automatically dispenses the correct volume of water.
The water being hot enough to kill bacteria when using the NHS/WHO method is dependent on the pre-boiled water not having cooled below 70°C. Perfect Prep® avoids this potential issue, guaranteeing the hot shot is always at least 70°C, and as safe as using the NHS/WHO method. Loosely fill the scoop with formula powder, according to the manufacturer's instructions, then level it using either the flat edge of a clean, dry knife or the leveller provided. Different formulas come with different scoops. Make sure you only use the scoop that comes with the formula. Holding the edge of the teat, put it into the retaining ring, check it is secure, then screw the ring tightly onto the bottle. Make sure the ring is attached firmly. Cover the teat with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved. It's important to cool the formula so it's not too hot to drink. Do this by holding the bottle (with the lid on) under cold running water. Step not required, Perfect Prep® makes bottle feeds at body temperature.
The inclusion of this step in the NHS/WHO method introduces a significant risk of contamination, a point acknowledged in a previous version of the NHS/WHO guidance which said “So that you do not contaminate the feed, make sure that the level of the cooling water is below the lid of the bottle.”. Running a bottle under the tap will most often taken place in the kitchen sink, a location which multiple studies1 have shown is prone to significant accumulations of bacteria. There is clear potential for cross-contamination, something that’s absent if you use the Perfect Prep® method.
Test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby. It should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm or cool, but not hot. Not relevant. This shows that there are no steps in the NHS/WHO method which offer a clear safety advantage when compared to the Perfect Prep® method.
The Perfect Prep® filter and the automatic control of the temperature of the hot shot provide potential safety advantages. And the risk of cross-contamination is removed because there’s no need to run the prepared bottle under the tap when you use Perfect Prep®.
It’s therefore conservative to say that the Perfect Prep® method is as safe as the NHS/WHO recommended approach.
Is Perfect Prep® really up to ten times faster than a kettle?
Yes, it is.
The exact time it takes to prepare a feed using Perfect Prep® depends on the size of the feed, the temperature of the water in the tank, and how quickly you carry out the steps following the dispense of the hot shot.
Assuming the tank is at room temperature, and with a realistic amount of time for the mixing stage, our testing shows that it takes around 1 minute and 40 seconds to prepare an 8oz feed using a Perfect Prep® machine. This assumes all preliminary stages, such as sterilising bottles and surfaces and washing hands have been carried out.
When testing the NHS/WHO method, with the same assumptions in relation to the preliminary stages, the 8 oz bottle prepared took approximately 16 minutes and 55 seconds, versus the 1 minute and 40 seconds for the 8oz bottle prepared using a Perfect Prep® machine. That is over 10x faster.
Step Time Emptying any previously boiled water from the kettle and adding 1 litre of fresh water. Dependent on kitchen size and relative location of sink and kettle, but it is reasonable to say at least 25 seconds. Boiling the kettle. Dependent on kettle power and efficiency. A typical 3KW kettle will take approximately 3 minutes. Allowing the water to cool to no less than 70°C. This again depends on the kettle. In our testing, it took around 38 minutes for the boiled water to cool to 70°C. The NHS/WHO method does not however specify a cooling time, it simply says it should be cooled to no lower than 70°C. At least one formula manufacturer says the kettle should be left to cool for 30 minutes2.
Parents with a hungry baby are unlikely to wait that long, but some time does need to be provided for this step as the NHS/WHO method does require the kettle to be left to cool for up to the stated maximum period. Being conservative, for the purposes of the comparison we have assumed the kettle is left to cool for 5 minutes.
Preparation of feed and cooling to body temperature. In our testing this took approximately 8 minutes.
Our test used a measuring device in the prepared feed which relayed the temperature remotely, so it was exactly 40°C when the time was taken. Using the NHS/WHO method requires additional time to be taken to test the temperature by squirting it on the wrist which was not included in this time.
The bottle then needs to be dried, which takes around 30 seconds.
In real life there will be a huge variety in how people subjectively determine if the feed has adequately cooled, so we will use our measured time as the basis for this comparison.
A kettle cool time of 30 minutes, something allowed for in the NHS/WHO method and recommended by at least one formula company2, would lead to a total time to prepare the feed of around 35 minutes or 21x slower than using a Perfect Prep® machine.
How do you clean Perfect Prep®?
Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to ensure the safety of your machine. You’ll need to run a cleaning cycle before the first use, after every filter change, after every de-scaling process and if you haven’t used it within the last seven days.
Visit our product support pages to learn how to properly clean and care for your Perfect Prep® machine.
1 For example, see https://www.academia.edu/download/85544077/Nov-11-Chen.pdf (“Kitchen sinks and [tap] handles were the most contaminated places in the kitchens”)
2 https://www.cgbabyclub.co.uk/baby/feeding/bottlefeeding/how-do-i-prepare-a-bottlefeed.html
You can download the independent report that has been provided by the external laboratory here.
How does the Perfect Prep® work?
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® machines automatically control the quality, volume and temperature of the water used to make a formula feed using a unique, patented three-stage process.
Once tap water has been added to the hopper, it passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities. The ultra filtration membrane inside forms a physical barrier that stops any bacteria in the tap water from passing into the machine.
Once the water is filtered, the machine is ready to make a feed.
It starts with a ‘hot shot’ of water that’s over 70°C to kill any bacteria that may be in the formula powder, and then completes the bottle feed by dispensing the correct amount of cool water to deliver the selected volume of formula, at body temperature.
Is the Perfect Prep® safe?
Yes. Perfect Prep® machines pass all appropriate standards for electrical baby products and are designed to make the lives of parents simpler.
To ensure safety, Perfect Prep® machines make a fresh formula feed using a unique, patented three-stage process.
Step 1: First, the water used to make the feed passes through a filter that removes bacteria and other impurities. Bacteria are removed using an ultra-filtration membrane which has openings that are smaller than bacteria, and therefore form a physical barrier that stops any bacteria in the tap water from passing into the machine. Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters areas effective as boiling the kettle when it comes to removing bacteria, as tested and verified by an independent laboratory.
Step 2: Once the water is safely purified, a baby bottle containing formula powder is placed on the machine, and ‘hot shot’ of water is dispensed into it. The hot shot is always at least 70°C, so it can kill any bacteria in the formula powder.
Step 3: The Perfect Prep® machine then completes the bottle feed by dispensing a measured quantity of cool water. The machine is perfectly calibrated to ensure that the total volume of the feed is perfect, and that the combination of the patented hot shot and the second dispense results in a body temperature bottle feed.
With Perfect Prep®, you get a safe, fresh feed in less than two minutes, at the perfect temperature, every time.
How does the Perfect Prep® filter work?
Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters have three distinct filtration stages.
- First, micromesh (like a sieve but with much smaller holes) removes larger particles, such as sediment and fibres. Any particles like this would not be removed by boiling water in a kettle.
- The water moves into the next section of the filter which contains ion exchange resin and activated carbon. The ion exchange resin removes minerals in the water and softens it to reduce limescale build up. The activated carbon acts like a sponge, removing chlorine, and possible contaminants like pharmaceutical residues, pesticides and herbicides. Again, boiling the kettle would not be as effective, as kettles do not remove such residues.
- Finally, the hollow fibres in the lower section of the filter act as an ultra-filtration membrane. The openings in the fibres are only 0.1 microns. That’s around 250 times smaller than the smallest object visible to the human eye, and 700 times smaller than the diameter of an average human hair. The openings are smaller than bacterial cells, so they can’t fit through, but water can.
Importantly, as part of the manufacturing process every filter is sterilised after it has been sealed, ensuring that it is free of bacteria when it is first used.
Our filter has been tested on numerous occasions by independent, certified laboratories.
For example, in 2022, Tommee Tippee Perfect Prep® filters were tested by a UK laboratory.
Five filters were tested at 50 litre intervals, up to the 150-litre lifespan of the filter. The water used in the tests was intentionally contaminated with three types of bacteria and one type of mould.
Each test resulted in the removal of 100% of those contaminants, demonstrating that our filters are as effective as boiling water when it comes to removing microbes and bacteria from water.
The importance of using Tommee Tippee filters
We are aware that some people are buying standard water jug filters or filters claiming to contain an anti-bacterial membrane, rather than Tommee Tippee filters, to use in their Perfect Prep® machines.
Standard water jug filters generally do not contain an anti-bacterial filtration membrane, so are not safe to use in a Perfect Prep® machine. To understand the efficacy of other filters claiming to have an anti-bacterial membrane, our filter manufacturer had them tested them alongside the official Tommee Tippee filter, in an independent certified laboratory.
The conclusion of these tests showed that none of the claimed compatible filters were as effective as the Tommee Tippee filter in removing bacteria from water.
Test 1: Sterile water was filtered through a Tommee Tippee filter that was fresh out of the packet. Once filtered, the sterile water contained no bacteria.
Sterile water was also filtered through the alternative filters, fresh from the packet. Once it had passed through, this water was shown to contain bacteria.
Test 2: Intentionally contaminated water was passed through the alternative filters, and the filtered water was shown to contain bacteria afterwards, whereas the Tommee Tippee filter removed 100% the bacteria when tested in the same way.
The filters were then stored for several days, and when re-tested, the alternative filters removed even less bacteria. Whereas the Tommee Tippee filters still removed 100% of the bacteria that had been added to the contaminated water, meaning the discrepancy in performance got greater over time.
These tests prove that none of the other filters come close to matching the performance of the Tommee Tippee filter. Therefore, it's extremely important to make sure that you're buying and using Tommee Tippee anti-bacterial filters in your Perfect Prep® machine.
Importance of priming your filter
Prior to fitting your new filter, it needs to be primed properly and the steps for this are as follows:
1. Submerge the filter in cold water for 5 minutes.
2. Firmly tap the side of the filter, to loosen the particles. Following these steps means that the filter will work effectively.
When opening the filter packaging you may find that there is a small amount of black carbon residue in the bag or on the surface of the cartridge; this is normal and it’s nothing to be concerned about.
These food grade certified carbon particles are harmless. They can’t pass through the filter and will be reduced during the initial set up process when submerging in clean fresh water.
How does the hot shot work?
Although food hygiene laws in the UK state that infant formula must not contain certain specified bacteria, manufacturers cannot guarantee that their formula is bacteria free.
Therefore, it’s so important that any bacteria which might be in the formula is killed, and that’s why the Perfect Prep® machine has a patented hot shot.
The hot shot is always at an absolute minimum temperature of 70°C.
The exact temperature depends on the temperature of the filtered water in the machine’s tank, and the hot shot gets hotter as the tank temperature decreases.
This is ensured during manufacturing when every individual machine is tested in actual use and the hot shot temperature is measured on two different feed size settings. Any machine not passing that temperature test is rejected.
We understand you may have been advised to test your Perfect Prep® machine using a food thermometer. Unfortunately, these thermometers are not always sensitive enough to test the temperature effectively. The issue is that the temperature needs to be measured as the water comes out of the machine, but there is not a great enough flow of water to accurately take the temperature given that food thermometers are designed to be fully inserted into the food they are testing. Please rest assured, we have had many machines returned to us by concerned parents for testing and every time we have found the hot shot be to at the correct temperature when tested in our lab with a professionally calibrated instrument.
Hot shot efficacy
Our patented hot shot is there to kill any bacteria that may be present in the formula powder, and to ensure that the prepared feed is as safe as the result which would be achieved by making the feed with boiled water which has cooled to no less than 70°C, the method recommended by the NHS and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The efficacy of our patented hot shot has been assessed by an independent, certified laboratory. These tests were carried out when making a 4oz feed, the machine’ssmallest setting. The4oz feed therefore has the smallest hot shot quantity, and the least amount of heat energy available to kill any bacteria which may be in the formula. If the 4oz hot shot is safe, then we know the larger feed sizesare also safe.
Two scenarios were tested:
- Opened formula powder
The first test replicated how a bottle would be made using a Perfect Prep® machine at home. Formula powder was used which had been open for four weeks. Most formula manufacturers recommend that formula powder should be used within four weeks of opening, so this replicated a worst-case home use scenario. The bottles made were tested for all forms of bacteria, and every sample was entirely bacteria-free.
- Contaminated formula powder
Secondly, the lab prepared formula feeds using a Perfect Prep® machine, but this time the formula powder used was deliberately contaminated with bacteria (including organisms such as E.coli and Salmonella) at a level significantly greater than would be expected in regular use.
Out of 150 samples, more than 99.9% of the bacteria that had been added were eliminated. The lab compared these results against separate tests it had previously carried out with contaminated formula powder where bottles were made using the NHS/WHO method. In those tests the bacterial reduction rate was also less than 100%. Overall, the lab concluded that there was a comparable level of bacterial reduction between the Perfect Prep and NHS/WHO tests.
In conclusion, our patented hot shot has been proven to be just as safe as the NHS/WHO method (in both realistic home use and lab conditions with intentional bacterial contamination).
You can read the summary report from the lab here.
Does Perfect Prep® prepare a bottle feed in accordance with NHS/WHO guidelines, and which method is safer?
Perfect Prep® machines are designed to achieve the same result as following the World Health Organisation guidelines.
The World Health Organisation guidelines were designed for making up a feed without a Perfect Prep® machine, and state that boiled water that’s cooled for no more than 30 minutes, should be used. Perfect Prep® machines are designed to produce the same safe formula feed, but more quickly and conveniently. This saves time for parents and frustration for their baby, without compromising on safety.
This step-by-step comparison of Perfect Prep® and the formula preparation method recommended by the NHS/WHO compares the relative safety of the two approaches.
NHS/WHO Method
Perfect Prep®
Safety
Fill the kettle with at least 1 litre of fresh tap water (do not use water that has been boiled before).
Make sure the hopper of your machine is filled with tap water.
Not relevant.
Boil the water. Then leave the water to cool for no more than 30 minutes, so that it remains at a temperature of at least 70°C.
Perfect Prep® filters tap water.
The Perfect Prep® filter removes more possible contaminants than boiling.
Clean and disinfect the surface you are going to use.
No difference.
Not relevant.
It's important that you wash your hands.
No difference.
Not relevant.
If you are using a cold-water steriliser, shake off any excess solution from the bottle and the teat, or rinse them with cooled boiled water from the kettle (not tap water).
No difference.
Not relevant.
Stand the bottle on the cleaned, disinfected surface.
No difference.
Not relevant.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions and pour the amount of water you need into the bottle. Double check that the water level is correct. Always put the water in the bottle first, while it is still hot, before adding the powdered formula.
Once formula powder has been added, the patented hot shot is dispensed to kill bacteria.
Shake the bottle to dissolve the powder.
Perfect Prep® then automatically dispenses the correct volume of water.
The water being hot enough to kill bacteria when using the NHS/WHO method is dependent on the pre-boiled water not having cooled below 70°C. Perfect Prep® avoids this potential issue, guaranteeing the hot shot is always at least 70°C, and as safe as using the NHS/WHO method.
Loosely fill the scoop with formula powder, according to the manufacturer's instructions, then level it using either the flat edge of a clean, dry knife or the leveller provided. Different formulas come with different scoops. Make sure you only use the scoop that comes with the formula.
Holding the edge of the teat, put it into the retaining ring, check it is secure, then screw the ring tightly onto the bottle. Make sure the ring is attached firmly.
Cover the teat with the cap and shake the bottle until the powder is dissolved.
It's important to cool the formula so it's not too hot to drink. Do this by holding the bottle (with the lid on) under cold running water.
Step not required, Perfect Prep® makes bottle feeds at body temperature.
The inclusion of this step in the NHS/WHO method introduces a significant risk of contamination, a point acknowledged in a previous version of the NHS/WHO guidance which said “So that you do not contaminate the feed, make sure that the level of the cooling water is below the lid of the bottle.”.
Running a bottle under the tap will most often taken place in the kitchen sink, a location which multiple studies1 have shown is prone to significant accumulations of bacteria. There is clear potential for cross-contamination, something that’s absent if you use the Perfect Prep® method.
Test the temperature of the formula on the inside of your wrist before giving it to your baby. It should be body temperature, which means it should feel warm or cool, but not hot.
Not relevant. This shows that there are no steps in the NHS/WHO method which offer a clear safety advantage when compared to the Perfect Prep® method.
The Perfect Prep® filter and the automatic control of the temperature of the hot shot provide potential safety advantages. And the risk of cross-contamination is removed because there’s no need to run the prepared bottle under the tap when you use Perfect Prep®.
It’s therefore conservative to say that the Perfect Prep® method is as safe as the NHS/WHO recommended approach.
Is Perfect Prep® really up to ten times faster than a kettle?
Yes, it is.
The exact time it takes to prepare a feed using Perfect Prep® depends on the size of the feed, the temperature of the water in the tank, and how quickly you carry out the steps following the dispense of the hot shot.
Assuming the tank is at room temperature, and with a realistic amount of time for the mixing stage, our testing shows that it takes around 1 minute and 40 seconds to prepare an 8oz feed using a Perfect Prep® machine. This assumes all preliminary stages, such as sterilising bottles and surfaces and washing hands have been carried out.
When testing the NHS/WHO method, with the same assumptions in relation to the preliminary stages, the 8 oz bottle prepared took approximately 16 minutes and 55 seconds, versus the 1 minute and 40 seconds for the 8oz bottle prepared using a Perfect Prep® machine. That is over 10x faster.
Step Time
Emptying any previously boiled water from the kettle and adding 1 litre of fresh water.
Dependent on kitchen size and relative location of sink and kettle, but it is reasonable to say at least 25 seconds.
Boiling the kettle.
Dependent on kettle power and efficiency. A typical 3KW kettle will take approximately 3 minutes.
Allowing the water to cool to no less than 70°C.
This again depends on the kettle. In our testing, it took around 38 minutes for the boiled water to cool to 70°C. The NHS/WHO method does not however specify a cooling time, it simply says it should be cooled to no lower than 70°C. At least one formula manufacturer says the kettle should be left to cool for 30 minutes2.
Parents with a hungry baby are unlikely to wait that long, but some time does need to be provided for this step as the NHS/WHO method does require the kettle to be left to cool for up to the stated maximum period. Being conservative, for the purposes of the comparison we have assumed the kettle is left to cool for 5 minutes.
Preparation of feed and cooling to body temperature.
In our testing this took approximately 8 minutes.
Our test used a measuring device in the prepared feed which relayed the temperature remotely, so it was exactly 40°C when the time was taken. Using the NHS/WHO method requires additional time to be taken to test the temperature by squirting it on the wrist which was not included in this time.
The bottle then needs to be dried, which takes around 30 seconds.
In real life there will be a huge variety in how people subjectively determine if the feed has adequately cooled, so we will use our measured time as the basis for this comparison.
How do you clean Perfect Prep®?
Regular cleaning and maintenance are required to ensure the safety of your machine. You’ll need to run a cleaning cycle before the first use, after every filter change, after every de-scaling process and if you haven’t used it within the last seven days.
Visit our product support pages to learn how to properly clean and care for your Perfect Prep® machine.
1 For example, see https://www.academia.edu/download/85544077/Nov-11-Chen.pdf (“Kitchen sinks and [tap] handles were the most contaminated places in the kitchens”)
2 https://www.cgbabyclub.co.uk/baby/feeding/bottlefeeding/how-do-i-prepare-a-bottlefeed.html
You can download the independent report that has been provided by the external laboratory here.
