Khaberni - The Director of the Drug Directorate at the Public Institution for Food and Drug, Rana Malkawi, confirmed on Thursday that the tests conducted by the institution in its local laboratories, in addition to reference laboratories in Europe, on the types of milk that were withdrawn from the market, proved to be free of any contamination.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 institution urged a discontinuation of the use of the following batches of infant milk: (5231080661.5183080661.S-26 AR GOLD 5125080661) and returning them to the place of purchase until all additional tests are completed.
The institution is continuing to monitor the issue of contamination in Nestlé's infant milk products for children under one year old. Through tracing and studying the supply chains of the contaminant involved in some of Nestlé's infant milk formulas, and in cooperation with Nestlé, a precautionary decision was made to withdraw batches of S26 AR GOLD infant milk.
Malkawi explained during her conversation with "Al-Mamlaka channel" that the withdrawal of the milk was only a precautionary and preventative measure, indicating that the specific batches of milk types that were withdrawn will not return to the market, as they will be held by the manufacturing company pending their destruction.
She indicated that there was a type of milk en route to Jordan that had not entered the local market, as the shipment was detained before its entry.
She emphasized that infant milk for children under the age of one is treated as medicine in Jordan, and is handled according to the same procedures applicable to medicines, confirming that any milk for children under one year entering the local market must undergo testing according to the Jordanian standard specification.
She added that the imported batches are tested by the institution, alongside a requirement to provide it with test results issued by the manufacturing company in the country of origin.
Zaid Al-Kilani, Head of the Pharmacists Syndicate, clarified that the types that were withdrawn are specific and differ from company to company, confirming that it does not include all varieties of the concerned companies.
Al-Kilani mentioned that there are available alternatives for the milk withdrawn from the market, noting that the withdrawal carried out by the Food and Drug Institution was precautionary pending the results of the tests.
He confirmed that so far there have been no problems with the batches that were withdrawn, noting that the types of milk that were withdrawn differ from each company, where 3 different types were withdrawn belonging to three different companies.
He mentioned that the notification to pharmacies is done through the Food and Drug Institution, in addition to an official letter from the manufacturing company sent to the Pharmacists Syndicate, which in turn circulates it to pharmacies.
