China's State Administration for Market Regulation. Photo: VCG

In response to the recent preventive recall of certain Nestlé infant formula products due to the detection of cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, China's State Council Food Safety Office and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) attached great importance to the matter and have urged Nestlé China Co to complete the recall of the specific batches sold in the Chinese mainland, according to the statement released by the SAMR on Thursday.

So far, no confirmed cases of cereulide poisoning caused by the consumption of infant formula milk powder have been reported in China, according to the SAMR statement.

The statement said that the SAMR has instructed local authorities to strengthen quality and safety oversight of infant formula milk powder, require all manufacturers to conduct testing for cereulide, strictly control raw material inspections and final product release procedures, and make every effort to ensure the quality and safety of infant formula products.

Following Nestlé's recall of several batches of infant formula in multiple European countries, the Chinese market also initiated a recall of specific batches of infant and toddler formula milk powder.

Global Times