South Africa’s largest food company Tiger Brands Ltd is recalling its Purity Essentials baby powder products as a precautionary measure after traces of asbestos were detected in test samples, it said on Wednesday.
Tiger Brands said the test samples were from a batch of pharmaceutical-grade talc powder used as raw material in the production of finished powder products. This batch did not meet the company’s strict quality and safety standards, it said.
Products forming part of the recall include the 100g, 200g and 400g pack sizes of Purity Essentials Baby Powder. Purity Essentials baby cornstarch powder or any other baby care products under the Purity brand are not affected by the recall, it added.
“In the best interest of consumers and as a precautionary measure, the company made the decision to initiate a product recall of the affected products after consultation with the National Consumer Commission,” the company said.
Tiger Brands said the recall would not have a material impact on its financial results.
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The recall by Tiger brands is coming after US multinational Johnson & Johnson announced that it would stop selling and making talc-based baby powder around the world.
The company stopped sales in the US and Canada two years ago, after the US authorities found trace amounts of asbestos in its baby powder.
This triggered tens of thousands of lawsuits from women who alleged that the use of the powder caused their ovarian cancer.
Source: Reuters
