Baby food products recalled

The makers of Gerber baby products said yesterday they have ordered a recall of baby food in jars and juices in the country following information of alleged tampering of the products.

"As a preventive measure and following the threat of possible product tampering in the Philippines, Gerber is voluntarily recalling its Gerber Jars and Juices," the company said in advertisements carried in major dailies.

A Gerber Philippines spokeswoman said the recall was ordered due to "information given to us" on Tuesday about product tampering but would not provide details.

They stressed there had been no evidence of product tampering found yet but the company was still urging people not to buy its jars and juices and to return unconsumed products to stores for a full refund.

The police and the National Bureau of Investigation are looking into the case, the Gerber spokeswoman said.

They would not give an estimate of how much the recall would cost the company. The recall does not cover other products in the Gerber line.

Gerber is the baby products brand of Switzerland-based company, Novartis.

Sen. Manuel Villar said Gerber distributor Novartis made the right move in voluntarily pulling out Gerber baby food in jars and juices to protect the consuming public even if its means huge losses for the company.

Villar made the statement after receiving an email, stating that "dangerous chemicals" had been mixed with 25 bottles of the baby food.

"It is unfortunate that the company has been the target of a diabolical and vicious campaign," Villar said in a statement. "Company officials may have chosen to ignore the threat as a possible prank message, but they have demonstrated to the public that protecting human lives are more important than making profits."

The senator urged police and trade officials to verify if the threat was real or not.

At the same time, he called on an immediate investigation into claims that the "toxic materials" in the baby food were reportedly brought from a firm in Bulacan.

Villar also urged trade and health officials to intensify its information campaign on the supposedly affected products "to prevent any unfortunate incidents and panic among consumers." — with AFP