BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Brunei's Ministry of Health Tuesday informed importers, retailers and the public of the recall as well as the ban on the import, distribution and sale of milk products by Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited from New Zealand.

The baby milk products found to contain a strain of bacteria causing botulism have been recalled in many countries, including China, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia.

The products include Nutricia Karicare Infant Formula Stage 1 for newborn babies up to six months old (batch number 3169 and 3197 with expiry dates of June 17, 2016 and June 18, 2016) and Karicare Gold+ On Formula Stage 2 for babies six month up to a year old (batch number D3183 which has been recalled in New Zealand), the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in a press statement.

The statement also said that no cases of botulism have been reported so far, both locally and in other countries where the said product brands are sold.

The Food Safety and Quality Control Division, Department of Health Services will continue to monitor and carry out spot checks at all supermarkets and business premises to ensure that all the product brands in question are no longer available in the market.

The Ministry of Primary Industries of New Zealand revealed that several Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited products had been detected positive for Clostridium Botulinum bacteria that can produce poison and cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, paralysis and may even lead to death.

The bacteria is found in three product-batches, "Whey protein concentrate" (WPC80) that is used as ingredients in infant milk products. However, fresh milk products, yogurt, cheese, spreads and UHT milk are not affected.

The MoH urged consumers who possess these products to return them to the shops where the products were bought or to hand them over to the Quality Control and Food Safety Division of the Health Services Department or Health Offices in other districts so that they can be destroyed.