The director of the Drug Directorate at the Public Corporation for Food and Drugs, Rana Malkawi, confirmed on Thursday that the tests conducted by the establishment in its local laboratories, in addition to reference laboratories in Europe, on the types of milk that were withdrawn from the market, proved to be free of any contamination.
The establishment urged to stop using the following infant milk batches: (5231080661.5183080661.S-26 AR GOLD 5125080661) and return them to the place of purchase pending confirmation that all additional tests are complete.
The establishment continues to monitor the issue of contamination of Nestlé company's products related to infant milk for children under one year of age. Through tracking and studying the supply chains of the contaminating substance, which is included in some of Nestlé’s infant milk formulas, and in cooperation with Nestlé, a precautionary decision was made to withdraw batches of infant milk S26 AR GOLD.
Malkawi explained in her statement "to Al-Mamlaka TV" that the withdrawal of milk was a precautionary and preventive measure only, noting that the specific batches of milk types that were withdrawn will not return to the market and will be retained by the manufacturing company in preparation for their destruction.
She highlighted that there was a type of milk on its way to Jordan that has not entered the local market, as the shipment was detained before its entry.
She emphasized that infant milk designated for children under one year of age is treated as medicine in Jordan and is dealt with according to the same procedures followed for medicines, confirming that any milk for children under one year old entering the local market is tested according to the Jordanian standard specification.
She added that imported batches are tested by the establishment, in addition to requiring them to be provided with test results issued by the manufacturing company in the country of origin.
Zaid Al-Kilani, the head of the pharmacists' guild, clarified that the specific types that were withdrawn vary from one company to another, ensuring that it does not include all varieties of relevant companies.
Al-Kilani noted that there are alternatives available for the milk withdrawn from the market, explaining that the withdrawal executed by the Food and Drug Administration was precautionary pending the results of the tests.
He confirmed that so far, there have been no problems in the batches that were withdrawn, noting that the types of milk withdrawn differ from each company, where 3 types of imported milk belonging to three different companies were withdrawn.
He mentioned that notification to pharmacies is done through the Food and Drug Administration, in addition to an official letter from the manufacturing company sent to the pharmacists' guild, which in turn circulates it to pharmacies.
