By Terri-Liza Fortein
The products, which were distributed in South Africa, Zambia and Botswana, were recalled this month when a consumer reported that her baby was having gastrointestinal problems after consuming the product.
On March 4, 2 000 tins of NAN 2 baby formula with the batch code 73310179B2 were removed from about 180 supermarkets in the Cape. And on March 11, several hundred tins of Lactogen 1 with the batch code 73100179L2 were recalled from South Africa, Botswana and Zambia.
Nestle spokesperson Theo Mxakwe said there was a control breach due to human error. He added that an internal investigation was under way and the company would be taking corrective and disciplinary action where necessary.
Mxakwe said detailed reports on the composition of the products recalled by Nestle would be completed by next week.
The head of paediatrics at Johannesburg Hospital, Peter Cooper, said the intake of zinc, copper and iron was toxic when consumed in large doses.
He added: "It is difficult to comment because we are not sure of the levels of zinc, copper and iron present in this formula. But if the levels were excessive, it would probably cause diarrhoea, constipation and vomiting."
The department of health's directorate of food control and nutrition has been monitoring the situation closely. Its nutrition director, Lynn Moeng, said they were concerned about the recalls and were in constant communication with Nestle.
The department's environmental health practitioners were determining whether any of the defective products were still available at retail level.
Moeng said it appeared Nestle's quality control systems had failed and her department was liaising with the relevant quality control managers at the company "to verify the cause or causes of the composition errors".
According to Nestle, products with excessive levels of copper, iron and zinc were so unpleasant in every respect - sight, taste and smell - that they were very unlikely to be consumed.
An expert from Switzerland is spearheading the probe at Nestle to ascertain where the problems originated and what mechanisms the company will need to put in place to ensure that similar incidents are not repeated.