VEVEY, Switzerland— Nestlé said contaminated animal feed was responsible for levels of melamine discovered in two brands of its infant formula in South Africa—giving credence to the possibility that the industrial chemical may be able to cross from the feed to the food chain.
The statement by Nestlé runs against the belief held by many experts and food-safety bodies that melamine ingested by animals does not pass into the food chain, as reported exclusively by Feedinfo News Service. It challenges the perception that the industrial chemical either is excreted by the animal or is diluted to such an extent that any remaining traces are practically undetectable in human food.
The announcement by Nestlé South Africa comes after a batch of the company’s Nido Growing up Milk for 1-year-olds and a consignment of Lactogen Starter Infant Formula with iron were recalled by the KwaZulu-Natal health department in November.
A Nestlé statement said: “Testing led to the discovery of melamine in a number of samples of cattle feed which is predominantly used in winter, which explains the presence of melamine traces in these batches. Consequently, Nestlé has also taken steps to ensure that the cattle feed used by its South African milk producers is melamine free.”
KwaZulu-Natal Health department spokesman Leon Mbangwa said the batches, which were manufactured in June and July 2008, contained melamine levels of 1.6mg/kg in the Lactogen product, while the Nido sample contained 3mg/kg.
He added that information from Nestlé indicated that the product was made in South Africa and contained only locally produced ingredients such as fresh milk.
A statement from Nestlé said that all its product both in South Africa and worldwide were safe and that “no Nestlé product is made from milk adulterated with melamine.”