Updates on CFS' follow-up on French infant and young children formulae incident

The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said today (January 18) that in view of the latest notification from the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed of the European Commission that the recall of French infant and young children formula products suspected to be contaminated with salmonella has been expanded to cover all batches of products produced by Lactalis Craon Factory as a precautionary measure. The CFS has instructed the local importer concerned to implement the recall accordingly. The Centre also urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the following affected products, regardless of batches. The trade should also stop selling the products concerned immediately if they possess them.
 
 Product details are as follows:
 
 (1)Product name: Inovital Infant milk from 0 to 6 months (No. 1)
 Brand: Mon petit
 Manufacturer: Lactalis International
 Place of origin: France
 Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
 Net weight: 900 grams
 
 (2) Product name: Inovital Follow-on milk from 6 to 12 months (No. 2)
 Brand: Mon petit
 Manufacturer: Lactalis International
 Place of origin: France
 Manufacturer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
 Net weight: 900 grams
 
 (3) Product name: Inovital Growing-up milk from 1 to 3 years (No.3)
 Brand: Mon petit
 Manufacturer: Lactalis International
 Place of origin: France
 Importer: Jumbo Smart Development Limited
 Net weight: 900 grams
  
Members of the public may call the hotline of the importer at 2272 1128 during office hours for enquiries about the recall.

The CFS spokesman said, "Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product which may be contaminated with pathogens such as salmonella and Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.). The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations/World Health Organization advise that powdered infant formula should be prepared with boiled water that is no cooler than 70 degree Celsius which can significantly inactivate pathogens including salmonella. Reconstituted powdered infant formula should then be cooled to feeding temperature and consumed immediately. Reconstituted powdered infant formula that has not been consumed within two hours at room temperature should be discarded. On the other hand, for high-risk infants, including pre-term infants, infants less than two months of age, low-birth-weight infants (< 2.5 kilograms) and immunocompromised infants etc, who are not breastfed, caregivers should use commercially sterile liquid formula whenever possible."
  
The spokesman advised consumers to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the above products.
  
The CFS collected infant formula samples at import, wholesale and retail levels on a risk-based approach for microbiological testing under its food surveillance programme to ensure that they are in compliance with local legal requirements and fit for human consumption. From 2014 to 2017, the CFS took 323 infant formula samples for testing with all results satisfactory. The CFS has enhanced surveillance of dairy products available in local market since the incident.
  
The CFS will inform the trade and continue to closely monitor the latest development of the incident. Investigation is ongoing.

Ends/Thursday, January 18, 2018