FDA orders pullout of 2 milk products from local market

MANILA, Philippines – The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has ordered the pullout from the local market of two milk products for reportedly failing to meet standards and exposing young children to risk of diseases.

Nazarita Tacandong, FDA director, issued separate advisories ordering the recall of Sustagen Junior Milk Drink Vanilla Flavor (for 1-3 years old) and Alactagrow Bibo Tiro Milk Supplement.             

“Continuous distribution of the said product presents gross deception to the consuming public and may even present risk of illness or injury to the consuming sector of the public, the young children,” Tacandong said.

The FDA noted that the standard required for fat is between three and six grams per 100 calories.

“However, evaluation of the (Sustagen) product’s fat content per 100 calories compared to the product’s label declaration of 5.9 per 100 gram powder and 392 calories per 100 grams will result in only 1.5 grams fat per 100 calories,” the FDA official pointed out.

She added that evaluation of Alactagrow’s fat content per 100 calories compared to the product’s label declaration of 5.1 per 100 grams powder and 380 calories per 100 grams will result in only 1.34 grams fat per 100 calories.

FDA stressed the findings clearly showed that the two milk products were “indisputably” non-compliant to the standard quality.

The agency also advised those who may have already purchased these products to return them to the manufacturers in their head office at 2309 Don Chino Roces Ave. in Makati City.

However, despite the recall order, Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN) Philippines, manufacturer of Sustagen Junior and Alactagrow, assured the public that their products are all safe for consumption.

MJN said the FDA issued the recall order based on “technical compliance issues” and not on the “regulatory definition,” which specifically states that the use of or exposure to the product is not likely to cause adverse health consequences.

“Safety is Mead Johnson’s highest priority and the company spares no effort to comply with the laws of all of the countries in which it operates,” said Paul Richards, president and general manager of MJN Philippines in a statement.

“All of the company’s products are produced in accordance with the CODEX Code of Hygienic Practice for Foods for Infants and Children,” Richards pointed out.

He explained that when the Philippine FDA recently adopted additional CODEX regulations applying specifically to follow-up formulas, Mead Johnson proactively cooperated and has stayed in frequent communication with them to ensure that their products would continue to be available for the families that use them, and in compliance with the new regulations.