- The Nestle company in Tanzania has clarified reports that some of its dairy products are contaminated with melamine.
According to a statement issued by the company representatives in Tanzania, products in the country are safe and of high quality, though it confirmed that some products from South Africa have been found to have melamine traces.
The statement came after the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority had banned imports of Nestle products of Lactogen I and NIDO I made in South Africa.
"We would wish to assure consumers of Nestle products across Tanzania that all Nestle diary products sold in Tanzania are absolutely safe for consumption. No Nestle product is made from milk adulterated with melamine," said the statement issue by Rasul Faiz, the Company's Business Development Manager in the country.
Mr Faiz said in the statement that his company in South Africa had maintained constant communication with the Department of Health in Kwazulu Natal and tests that were done to the doubtful batches tested positive in a number of samples of cattle feed hence the presence of melamine in the milk.
"Consequently, Castle Company has also taken steps to ensure that the cattle feed by its South African producers is melamine free," reads the statement further.
Last Saturday, TFDA announced a temporary ban on the importation of milk products namely Lactogen 1 with batch number 82050179LI of 23 July, and NIDO 1 with batch number 81790181SO2EIM of 17 June and that its registration had also been temporarily stopped pending investigations.
The TFDA Acting Director General, Charys Ugullum said following reports obtained from the Health Department of Kwazulu Natal Province in South Africa, the Authority was now conducting search exercises to all entry and selling points in the country to make sure the products were not reaching consumers.
A statement said Tanzania is one of the leading importers of various products from South Africa and the country has invested substantially in the country by opening big supermarkets.
Ms Ugullum urged Tanzanians to be careful in verifying batch numbers at the bottom of the tins before buying the products while the Authority continued with investigations to detect the deadly chemical that is already believed to be on the shelves in the country.
Some reports have howver suggested that the contaminated milk was smuggled into Tanzania and sold at cheaper prices as compared to normal prices.
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