The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) has warned the Ugandan public that Lactalis Group, a French firm dealing in processing of dairy products, has notified its customers about a recall of its products believed to be contaminated with Salmonela, an organism which can cause fatal infections.
The brands mostly affected include Picot, Milumel, and Celi powered infant milk. “UNBS would like to advise consumers to avoid buying the mentioned brand until the product recall has been completed,” says a notice.
UNBS says it is carrying out market surveillance inspections to ensure that affected products are removed from the market.
‘All UNBS imports inspectors at border points have been notified to withhold consignments with dairy products from Lactalis Group until such a time when we are satisfied that the product recall has been completed’, adds that notice.
The notice also indicates that UNBS will continue to perform its mandate of enforcing standards to protect consumer health and safety and the environment against dangerous and sub-standard products.
Lactalis Group says about 7,000 tonnes of formula may have been contaminated and the company thinks the salmonella outbreak can be traced to an evaporation tower – used to dry out the milk – at a factory in the town of Craon in northwest France.
Health officials confirmed 26 children in France have become sick and have ordered a recall in Britain, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan.
Lactalis is one of the world’s biggest producers of dairy products and is marketed globally under a host of brand names, including Milumel, Picot and Celi.
