Manila: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has started supervising the destruction of recalled infant formula products from Nestl© Philippines Inc. as part of the final regulatory actions following the recall of selected batches of Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro milk formula. In a statement Wednesday, the FDA said the controlled destruction of recovered products began on March 9 and will be carried out over several days.
According to Philippines News Agency, the activity marks the last operational step in the recall process after the completion of the agency's investigation, monitoring, and coordination with the company through the FDA's Product Recall Committee. Authorized FDA representatives are present during the disposal process to ensure that the destruction complies with regulatory procedures and environmental safety standards.
Based on reports submitted to the agency, a total of 330,004 units from the identified batches were produced. Through coordinated recall activities, about 62 percent of the products were successfully recovered from the market and are now undergoing controlled destruction under FDA supervision.
In January this year, Nestl© Philippines Inc. voluntarily recalled limited batches of its Nan Optipro and Nankid Optipro infant formula products due to a potential contamination risk linked to an ingredient supplied by a third party. The company said that during the recall period, Nestl© maintained consumer assistance channels to respond to inquiries and complaints, and to facilitate the retrieval, replacement, or refund of the affected products through the company and its partner retailers.
The FDA said that based on its review of reports submitted to the agency, "no confirmed or conclusive cases of illness linked to the recalled products have been established so far." The agency said product recalls are part of regulatory safeguards to ensure that any potential product concerns are addressed promptly and transparently. The FDA added it continues to work closely with manufacturers and other stakeholders to ensure that all recall procedures -from product retrieval to final disposal- are carried out in accordance with regulatory standards.
