A batch of baby food contaminated with Bacillus cereus microorganisms has been found in Ukraine, specifically in the “Antoshka” chain of stores. The affected products are under the NAN and NESTOGEN trademarks, which are supplied by Nestlé. Although Nestlé announced a recall of these batches, stating that they were not supplied to Ukraine, it appears that some of these batches have made their way into the Ukrainian market.
A customer, Lina Beschastna, reported purchasing a jar of the contaminated baby food from the “Antoshka” store and another from the “Apteka 9-1-1” pharmacy. While the pharmacy promptly resolved the issue and allowed her to return the defective product, the “Antoshka” network requested that she return the product in its original packaging, which she had already unpacked and started using.
Both the “Antoshka” and “Apteka 9-1-1” networks claimed to have quality certificates and reported that they cooperate with verified manufacturers and official suppliers. However, the fact that contaminated products were found in their stores raises concerns about the effectiveness of their quality control measures.
Nestlé Ukraine initiated a voluntary recall of the affected batches, and “Apteka 9-1-1” reported that they stopped selling the products and withdrew them from circulation. Customers who purchased the contaminated products can return them, but the situation with other retailers who may be selling the affected batches is unclear.
The incident highlights the need for stricter quality control and monitoring of baby food products in Ukraine. Parents are advised to check the batch numbers of their baby food products and return any affected items to the store where they were purchased. The recall also raises questions about the supply chain and distribution of baby food products in Ukraine, and how contaminated batches were able to enter the market despite the manufacturer’s claims that they were not supplied to the country.