Philippine-made Nesquik safe - FDA

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Food and Drugs Administration on Thursday clarified that Nesquik chocolate powder products made in the Philippines are safe.

"Philippines-FDA wants to inform the public that Nesquik here in the Philippines is safe," FDA chief Kenneth Hartigan-Go said in a radio interview.

Go added: "It is not the same product voluntarily recalled by Nesquik in the United States. That is a different product, completely different from the one we have here."

He said that consumers of the local Nesquik product should not be alarmed.

"We want to make it clear that it is a different product and therefore safe in the Philippines," Go added.

Nestle USA had announced that it is recalling some of its Nesquik products due to possible salmonella contamination.

It said that the Nesquik product involved were in 10.9-, 21.8- and 40.7-ounce canisters produced early October. It said that the decision of its ingredient supplier, Omaya Inc., to recall ingredients calcium carbonate prompted its own voluntary recall of the chocolate drink product.

Go, meanwhile, said that Nesquik chocolate drink products from the US are in metal canisters and Philippine-made Nesquik products are in plastic containers.