Nestlé Hong Kong has issued a recall of another batch of baby milk formula due to concerns over potential bacterial contamination. The recall is related to the presence of cereulide, a toxin derived from the microorganism Bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning. The latest batch of formula to be recalled is Nan PRO 1 2HMO baby milk formula with a best-before date of June 16, 2027, and batch number 51670742F2. According to Nestlé, only a small amount of this batch had entered the market.
This is not the first recall issued by Nestlé Hong Kong, as the company has been embroiled in a global scare over the potential contamination of certain batches of baby milk formula. However, no cases of babies affected by the toxin have been reported in Hong Kong to date.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department’s Centre for Food Safety has been working with Nestlé Hong Kong to address the issue. On Saturday, the centre met with Nestlé representatives and conducted tests on sampled formula, including both those still on the market and the latest recalled batch. Fortunately, the test results were satisfactory, indicating that the products currently on sale locally do not contain toxins.
The Centre for Food Safety has been collecting samples of powdered infant and young children’s formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, and so far, all test results have been satisfactory. While the recall is a precautionary measure, it is reassuring that the government tests have found no evidence of contamination in the products currently available for purchase. Parents and caregivers can be assured that the authorities are taking steps to ensure the safety of baby milk formula products in Hong Kong. Nestlé Hong Kong has also taken prompt action to recall potentially contaminated products, demonstrating its commitment to prioritizing consumer safety.