Belgian Health: Life Expectancy Rises, Baby Reflux Concerns, and Toy Safety Warning
Three significant health-related stories emerged from Belgium on July 9, 2026, painting a mixed picture of public health in the country. While life expectancy continues to rise and the gender gap narrows, concerns over the overprescription of reflux medication to infants and the safety of popular children’s toys have prompted calls for action from health officials and consumer protection authorities.
Life Expectancy Rises to 82.5 Years as Gender Gap Narrows
Belgium’s average life expectancy reached 82.5 years in 2025, an increase of 54 days compared to 2024, according to new data from Statbel, the Belgian statistical office. The most striking trend is the narrowing gap between men and women: male life expectancy rose by 101 days to 80.5 years, while female life expectancy increased by just 3 days to 84.4 years.
The gender gap has shrunk from 6.67 years in 1996 to 3.87 years in 2025, continuing a long-term convergence driven largely by improvements in men’s health outcomes. As VRT NWS reported, this reflects changing lifestyle patterns, including reduced smoking rates and improved health awareness among men.
Regional disparities remain significant. The Flemish Region leads with a life expectancy of 83.3 years (81.6 for men, 85.0 for women), followed by Brussels-Capital at 82.3 years, and Wallonia at 81.0 years. Flemish Brabant recorded the highest life expectancy at 83.9 years, while Hainaut registered the lowest at 80.1 years.
One in 13 Belgian Babies Receives Reflux Medication
A study by the Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen (Independent Health Insurance Funds) has revealed that 7.1% of Belgian babies under 11 months — approximately one in 13 — received proton pump inhibitor (PPI) reflux medication in 2024. While this represents a slight decline from 7.6% in 2016, the rate remains far above the European average.
As HLN reported, the international comparison is stark: in Norway, just 1.1% of infants receive such medication. Within Belgium, regional variation is extreme — Wallonia prescribes reflux medication to 13% of babies, more than three times the rate in Flanders and Brussels, where approximately 4% receive it.
Treatments are often prolonged. Children who receive medication use it for an average of more than two months during their first year; 40% take it for at least two months, and nearly one in five for at least four months. Pediatricians write approximately 75% of first prescriptions, and boys receive medication more often than girls.
“That one in 13 babies receives reflux medication during the first year of life, often for several months, and that there are strong variations in use, shows that it is important to monitor this issue,” said Wies Kestens, expert at the Onafhankelijke Ziekenfondsen. “Especially because unnecessary and long treatments increase the risk of side effects.”
Reflux affects about half of babies under three months and typically resolves spontaneously by age one without treatment, raising questions about potential overmedication.
Professor Warns Squishy Dumpling Toys Contain Carcinogenic Substances
Consumer expert Safia Yachou of HLN had three samples of popular “squishy dumpling” stress toys tested at the KU Leuven laboratory of Professor Jan Tytgat, a toxicologist. The results were alarming: all three samples — purchased from a fair, Bol.com, and Standaard Boekhandel — contained potentially carcinogenic substances including xylene, benzene derivatives, and naphthalene derivatives, products naturally found in crude oil.
As Professor Jan Tytgat explained, the toys pose multiple health risks. “Our analyses show that potentially carcinogenic substances are detectable,” he said. “These include xylene, benzene derivatives, and naphthalene derivatives — products that occur naturally in crude oil.” He warned that children could experience headaches, dizziness, nausea, concentration problems, lung irritation, and skin allergies from prolonged contact.
One sample from Standaard Boekhandel carried a CE label, which should indicate compliance with European safety standards. However, Tytgat questioned its validity given the chemical findings. “If we see that there are fractions of petroleum in there that can irritate children’s hands, then I question that certification,” he said.
Belgian Minister of Consumer Protection Rob Beenders (Vooruit) has ordered the FOD Economie to open an investigation. The concern extends beyond Belgium’s borders: the UK product watchdog OPSS has already issued a recall for counterfeit dumplings from China containing elevated benzene, and the Netherlands has launched its own investigation.
Health authorities have also warned about a dangerous social media trend in which children microwave the dumplings to soften them, causing explosions. One 13-year-old in Belgium suffered facial and neck burns from such an incident.
Looking Ahead
These three stories highlight both progress and challenges in Belgian public health. The steady rise in life expectancy and narrowing gender gap reflect positive long-term trends, while the high rate of infant medication prescriptions and the emergence of unsafe consumer products underscore the need for continued vigilance from health authorities, regulators, and parents alike.