- COMESA sounds alarm on baby milk safety
NKOMBO KACHEMBA
Lusaka
THE COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a public warning following the recall of several infant milk brands suspected to contain a harmful toxin, raising concerns over consumer safety across member states.
In a notice dated April 8, the commission said it had been alerted to multiple product recalls involving infant formula manufactured by Nutricia Southern Africa and other brands distributed in international markets.
The affected products are suspected to contain traces of cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps when consumed at elevated levels.
Among the recalled products are Nutricia Aptamil Nutribiotik 2 (800g) and Aptajunior Nutribiotik 3 (800g), with a total of 2,989 units affected.
The recall was initially announced by the National Consumer Commission of South Africa following findings that a raw material used in production may have been contaminated.
The products were reportedly sold through major South African retailers including Dis-Chem and Clicks and distributed by United Pharmaceutical since August 2025.
Authorities have also confirmed that the same products were exported to Botswana and Namibia, raising the risk of wider regional exposure.
In a separate development, the commission highlighted another recall involving Aptamil and Nursie infant milk products after an alert issued by Morocco’s National Office for Food Safety.
The agency warned that the affected products could cause digestive complications due to possible cereulide contamination.
Moroccan authorities have since seized the products and plan to destroy them after completing the recall process
The affected batches span multiple product variants and sizes, including Nursia, Nursie Comfort, Aptamil Premium, and Aptajunior ranges, with expiry dates stretching into 2027.
The commission further noted that these products are marketed across several COMESA member states, including Mauritius, Egypt and Tunisia, by distributors such as Danone, Ubuy, Kim-Fay and Carrefour.
Earlier this year, French multinational Danone also recalled several batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant milk products in Europe after detecting the same toxin, indicating a broader global safety concern.
The commission has since urged consumers across the COMESA region to exercise caution when purchasing infant milk products and to verify batch numbers where possible.
Consumers who encounter the affected products are advised to report the matter to relevant national consumer protection authorities.
“Given the potential health risks, consumers should remain vigilant and avoid using any of the recalled products,” the commission said, adding that it is working closely with member states to ensure affected consumers are informed and provided with appropriate redress.
The warning comes amid growing scrutiny over food safety standards and cross-border product monitoring, particularly for sensitive products such as infant nutrition.
