The UAE has announced a recall of a batch of Nestle baby formula products as a “voluntary and precautionary” measure aimed at protecting public health.
The Emirates Drug Establishment said the decision had been made after one of the raw materials used in production was found to contain traces of the Bacillus cereus bacteria, which can produce the toxin cereulide that can cause nausea and vomiting.
The medical regulator said a “limited number” of infant formula products – NAN Comfort 1, NAN Optipro 1, NAN Supreme Pro 1, 2, 3, S-26 Ultima 1, 2, 3, and Alfamino – were being recalled in co-ordination with Nestle.
“No illness or adverse events linked to the affected batches” had been reported and all other Nestle products remain safe for consumption,” the authority said.
“Product safety and quality, particularly when it comes to children’s health, is the establishment’s highest priority,” state news agency Wam reported.
The EDE said that the affected supplies had been quarantined in Nestle's and its distributors' warehouses and that efforts were continuing to complete the recall.
It said the measures were being taken to protect public health and noted that the recall process was being carried out in partnership with other regulatory authorities in the UAE to ensure the complete removal of the products from all points of sale, including online retail platforms.
Global recall
At least 37 countries, including most European states, as well as Australia, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa have issued health warnings over the infant formulas possibly being contaminated.
As well as in the UAE, the products have been recalled in Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
“This voluntary recall is a precautionary measure that is due to the potential presence of cereulide in one of
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