The Pharmaceutical Supervision and Administration Bureau (ISAF) and the Macau Municipal Affairs Bureau (IAM) issued a joint health alert yesterday afternoon about certain Nestlé-Wyeth Nutrition infant formula products that are suspected to contain Bacillus cereus.
Bacillus cereus is a species of bacteria known for its ability to cause foodborne illnesses, such as diarrhoea and abdominal cramps.
According to the statement, the two bureaus have been informed that several batches of Nestlé NAN and Wyeth Nutrition infant formula products are suspected of being contaminated with Bacillus cereus and, consequently, are being recalled from the local market.
Both bureaus are highly concerned about the incident and have taken immediate action, the statement said. The joint alert came after Hong Kong’s Centre for Food Safety, which is a part of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), had urged the public on Tuesday not to consume certain batches of powered infant and young children formula produced by Nestlé.
According to Tuesday’s FEHD statement, “Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upsets such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The two local bureaus yesterday issued food alerts to the local food industry, according to their joint statement, demanding the removal and recall of the affected batches, as well as halting the sale of the related products.
Inspectors have been dispatched to conduct market inspections, and major importers have been contacted, the statement said. After verification, some of the affected products have, indeed, been imported by suppliers in Macau. Both bureaus will continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent the circulation of the implicated products in the market, the statement said.
The problematic infant formula products in this incident involve multiple items under the Nestlé NAN and Wyeth Nutrition brands, both owned by Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation Nestlé. Specific details can be found via the provided webpage link: https://www.gcs.gov.mo/news/detail/zh-hant/N26AGNh18J;jsessionid=08AA45EB329812D8F12BE26CF2F9BD03.app11
The Post interviewed several people in charge of Western pharmacies yesterday in Fai Chi Kei district about the issue.
The person in charge of Farmácia Pou Kin said that the store had previously stocked four of the affected products, though they accounted for only a small proportion of inventory. She acknowledged that some of the problematic batches had already been sold. The store is currently processing returns for customers as notified by the distributor, but the procedure for handling its own remaining stock was still unclear, she said.
A person in charge of another pharmacy, surnamed Wong, said that the company had already returned the problematic infant formula products to the distributor to ensure it is no longer circulated. So far, no customers have requested returns, but his company’s policy allows for refunds. He emphasised that the stock of affected products was minimal and had no impact on his business.
A person in charge of another pharmacy, surnamed Un, said that after internal checks, none of the formula batches in the store were listed in the officially announced affected batches. Therefore, the store was not impacted by the incident, and no customers have requested returns thus far, Un said.
Meanwhile, according to international newswire reports, Nestlé has issued a global recall of some of its baby formula products over concerns they contain a toxin which can cause food poisoning.
The batches were sold across the world, Nestlé said, and they potentially contain cereulide, which can trigger nausea and vomiting when consumed.
The company said there had been no confirmed reports of illness associated with the products, but was recalling them “out of an abundance of caution”.
“The safety and wellbeing of babies is our absolute priority,” Nestlé was quoted as saying by the news agency reports. “We sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, caregivers, and customers.”
It stressed that all other Nestlé products and batches of the same products that have not been recalled are safe to consume.
Nestle promised refunds for customers and said the problem was caused by an ingredient provided by one of its suppliers.
A woman talks to sales staff at a Western pharmacy on Rua dos Mercadores in the city centre last night. – Photo: Armindo Neves
