Taiwan recalls Nestlé formula powder over potential contamination

Taipei, Jan. 8 (CNA) Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) said Thursday that Nestlé has preemptively recalled 83,496 cans of formula powder over potential contamination of toxin cereulide, amid a global recall of the global food company's products over the week.

Nestlé Taiwan on Thursday self-reported that two batches of its products sold in Taiwan, the Illuma Infant Growth Formula (啟賦幼兒成長專用配方, batch No. 51690017C1) and the Illuma Toddler Growth Formula (啟賦幼童成長專用配方, batch No. 51680017C2), may have used potentially contaminated ingredients. As a precaution, the company has initiated voluntary recalls to safeguard consumer health and safety, the TFDA said in a statement.

The company has also set up a dedicated hotline to handle returns and exchanges: 0809-000-828.

The TFDA urged consumers who have purchased the products to stop consumption and return the product.

The agency said it has been closely monitoring global recall alerts and confirmed on Tuesday that the affected batches identified by authorities in other countries have not been imported into Taiwan.

It also contacted the company's Taiwan branch to make an inventory of its products imported to Taiwan.

The toxin cereulide is heat-resistant and not easily destroyed by boiling or cooking, and consumption may cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal bloating, the TFDA said.

According to a statement on Nestlé's global website, the toxin was detected in the ingredient arachidonic acid oil, which is supplied by a major manufacturer.

It is currently working with the manufacturer to find the root cause of the contamination.

The statement listed over 40 countries across the globe in which official recalls have been issued.

The company said that no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with their products to date.