The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
Government 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.
Asbestos may cause a rare cancer called mesothelioma.
In an advisory to provincial medical directors, directors of health services and chief environment health officers, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care called for the removal of the product from shops.
“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,” reads the statement.
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 their polony products, after it had been seen that they were contaminated with listeriosis-causing pathogens.
