Yesterday, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration ordered retailers across the city to remove Hero Nutradefense infant formula from shelves after a television exposé raised concerns about the safety of the product in the region.
An investigation has also been launched, the Shanghai Food and Drug Administration added in a statement.
Earlier this week, state-owned broadcaster, China Central Television (CCTV), broadcast a report claiming that an importer based in Suzhou had mixed expired milk powder into imported Hero Nutradefense before changing production and expiration dates and repackaging them.
Hero Nutradefense, which is produced exclusively in the Netherlands using Dutch milk, has been available in China since 2012.
Commenting on the recall in Shanghai, Lenzberg, Switzerland-based Hero assured consumers that it has “not detected any problem concerning the quality and safety” of Nutradefense infant formula in China.
“Hero regrets that a recently broadcasted news item on Chinese Television about our infant milk brand Hero Nutradefense has created concern around the quality of our product sold in China,” said the company in a statement published on its website.
“As a Swiss company that has produced high-quality nutritious food products for over a century, Hero Group has always maintained the highest standards of quality and safety.”
“A recent investigation by the Suzhou Institute of Supervision & Inspection on Product Quality alleged that one of Hero’s sub-distributors in China has been involved in the illegal repackaging of Nutradefense,” said the statement.
According to Hero, the illegal repackaging has been investigated and “dealt with appropriately” by officials in the region.
The company added that it will continue to monitor its Chinese sub-distributors to ensure this illegal practice does not continue in the country.
“Hero Group has not detected any problem concerning the quality and safety of its products on the Chinese market. The company will continue to closely monitor its sub-distributors to ensure the integrity of Hero products sold in China," said Hero.
