Nestle Vietnam said the voluntary recall applies to 17 batches of imported infant formula products under the NAN brand. Consumers are urged to consult the full list of affected products and batches to determine whether their purchases are included.
The move follows the discovery by Nestle Group of a potential quality risk linked to a raw material, PUFA oil, supplied by a third party. The ingredient may carry a risk of cereulide, a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus, and was used in some infant formula products manufactured in Europe.
Nestle said the amount of PUFA oil used in the products was very small and that there has so far been no evidence confirming the presence of cereulide in any of the affected batches. However, applying the highest precautionary principle, the company decided to proactively and voluntarily recall products that could potentially be impacted.
Earlier, on January 7, the Vietnam food safety authority under the Ministry of Health requested Nestle Vietnam to review the registration and self declaration of infant formula products branded Beba and Alfamino. The company was also asked to report by January 10 on the import, distribution and inventory status of the products and to propose handling measures should any batches have entered the Vietnamese market.
Nestle Vietnam was established in 1995 and currently operates four factories nationwide, with total investment capital of nearly USD 904 million. The company produces, distributes and markets a wide range of well known brands in Vietnam, including Nescafe, Milo, Maggi, La Vie, KitKat and NAN infant nutrition products.
