The government of Zimbabwe has raised a red flag over baby powder that was recently imported from South Africa. This follows an announcement by Tiger Brands, one of the biggest commodity manufacturers in the neighbouring country, that they are recalling batches of Purity Essential Baby Powder over traces of asbestos. Reads the Tiger Brands statement:
Tiger Brands of South Africa is recalling Purity Essential Baby Powder from shops. The product contains unacceptable levels of asbestos which cause a rare cancer called mesothelioma. The traces were recently detected in test samples prompting the recall of the product. The following packages are recalled: Purity Essentials Baby Powder/Purity & Elizabeth Anne’s Essentials Baby Powder (100g) Code 6009523601859, Purity Essentials Baby Powder(200g) Code 6009523601866, Purity Essentials Baby Powder(400g) Code 6009523601828 and Purity & Elizabeth Anne’s Fresh Baby Powder(400g) Code 6009523604515.
Asbestos may cause rare cancer called mesothelioma.
In an advisory to provincial medical directors, directors of health services and chief environment health officers, the permanent secretary of Health and Child Care, Jasper Chimedza, called for the removal of the product from shops. Reads the statement:
Given that a significant number of products in our supermarkets are sourced from South Africa, there is a possibility that some batches of the baby powder in question are already in Zimbabwe.
These products should be removed from the shelves or intercepted at points of entry.
This is not the first time that Tiger Brands have had to recall their products over suspected contamination.
In 2018, the company made continental news after recalling its polony products, after it had been seen that they were contaminated with listeriosis-causing pathogens.
Zimbabwe relies on imports from South Africa to cater for its growing population and Tiger Brands’ products have a huge presence on the domestic market.