Health ministry orders nationwide crackdown on unsafe food products, after recall of NAN infant formula

The Ministry of Health has directed Food Safety Inspectors nationwide to intensify surveillance, remove any non-compliant food products from the market, and take legal action where necessary.

Ministry Principal Public Relations Officer, Georgia Chimombo, said in a statement issued on Sunday that the directive follows reports of a recall of Nestlé NAN infant formula due to possible contamination with a toxin.

Chimombo clarified that the enhanced surveillance applies to all food products, including those labelled in foreign languages.

“You may wish to note that the Ministry of Health is mandated under the Food Safety Act No. 7 of 2019 to protect the public from health hazards and fraud in the manufacture, sale, and use of food,” she stated.

She highlighted Section 13 of the Food Safety Act, which prohibits the sale of food products that do not meet established safety standards.

Chimombo said the Ministry engaged official international notification systems, including authorities in South Africa—the exporting country—to verify whether Zambia had imported the affected infant formula.

“The product in question is infant formula known as NAN Special Pro 0–12 months, which has been affected by potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin produced by a strain of bacteria called Bacillus cereus,” she explained.

Chimombo, however, disclosed that Zambia was not listed among countries that imported the affected formula.

Despite this, she said the Ministry had shared relevant product information with the public to support identification and enhance surveillance.

“The public is advised to rely on official Government communications from the Ministry and be assured that all measures are being undertaken for continued surveillance,” she said.

Chimombo urged anyone who may come across the affected product to report it to the nearest District Health Office or Public Health Department under local councils.

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