Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Ministry of Health and Child Care has advised all Provincial Medical Directors and City Health Directors to heighten surveillance for recalled Nestlé infant formula products, instructing officers on the ground and at ports of entry to immediately remove the affected items from shelves.
In a notice to health authorities dated 9 January, the Ministry said the directive follows a product recall announced by Nestlé involving a specific batch of infant formula distributed in parts of the region.
“Nestlé has announced a product recall of NAN Special Pro HA 0–12 800g in certain countries. Based on the available traceability systems, the only product affected in the East and Southern Africa region is one batch of speciality infant formula currently manufactured in Germany.
“This product has only been distributed to South Africa, Eswatini and Namibia. In South Africa, the only impacted product is NAN Special Pro HA 0–12 800g with the following details: Batch Number: 51660742F3; Best Before: 15 December 2026; Date of Manufacture: 15 June 2025; Shelf Life: 18 months.”
The Ministry said that while Zimbabwe is not listed among the affected countries, vigilance is required to prevent possible entry or circulation of the recalled product through informal or cross-border channels.
Health officials have been directed to intensify checks in health facilities, retail outlets and points of entry to ensure that any of the named products are promptly identified and withdrawn.
“Based on the alerts received, you are advised to ensure that your officers on the ground and at ports of entry are on the lookout for the named products, take them off the shelves and record the quantities and descriptions of the affected products before they are returned to the manufacturer.”
The measures are precautionary and form part of ongoing efforts to safeguard public health, particularly the health and safety of infants.
