BEIJING--China's national quality watchdog on Tuesday asked a
Chinese arm of the U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories (ABT) to recall
two infant formula products, the latest in a series of recalls
after New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra Co-Operative Group
Ltd.(FCG.NZ) said that some of their products might contain a
bacteria that could cause severe food poisoning.
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection
and Quarantine said in a statement on its website that it was
informed by the New Zealand embassy late Monday that two batches of
infant formula products produced by Abbott Laboratories Trading
(Shanghai) Co, .Ltd. could have been tainted by the Clostridium
botulinum, a bacteria that can cause botulism, which affects the
nervous and respiratory systems.
The two batches of products were both manufactured on May 2,
2013 and will expire on Oct. 31, 2015, the watchdog said.
It also said on Sunday that several food and beverage producers
operating in China had imported Fonterra products that could
contain the tainted ingredients. These companies include Hangzhou
Wahaha Group Ltd., Shanghai Tangjiu (Group) Co. and Dumex Baby Food
Co., a unit of Danone.
All were recalling related products that might contain the
tainted ingredients, the watchdog said.
Early Saturday, Fonterra said some of its exported whey protein
products may contain Clostridium botulinum. Later that day, China's
quality watchdog asked the nation's importers to recall some milk
products supplied by Fonterra.
Write to Liyan Qi at liyan.qi@dowjones.com
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