Singapore orders recall of baby food for containing too much arsenic
- The affected products include two types of Wen’s Baby Cereal Purée, from Singapore, as well as the Germany-made Holle Organic Wholegrain Cereal Rice
- Arsenic is a heavy metal that can cause cancer. Singapore’s food standards watchdog advised consumers not to feed the implicated products to children
The products are Wen’s Baby Cereal Purée Whitebait and Pumpkin, Wen’s Baby Cereal Purée Whitebait and Purple Sweet Potato and Holle Organic Wholegrain Cereal Rice, the Singapore Food Agency said in a news release on Monday.
The food standards agency has directed manufacturer Naoki Trading and distributor Chadil to recall affected batches of the product.
Arsenic is a heavy metal found naturally in the Earth’s crust and in the environment.
“Long-term intake of arsenic can cause cancer and skin changes,” the food agency said. “Hence, exposure through food, especially those meant for young children, should be kept as low as possible.”
Arsenic levels in infant food should not exceed the maximum limit of 0.1 ppm, it added.
“To minimise exposure to arsenic, consumers are advised to offer their infants a balanced diet with a wide variety of food,” it said.
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The agency regulates food products – including infant food – for food safety.
“They are subjected to SFA’s inspection and surveillance programme, which is based on scientific risk assessment,” it said. “SFA assesses the food safety risk, such as the known hazards associated with the food, with respect to our food safety requirements, before including the food and the related hazard in our inspection and surveillance programme.”
Food products that do not comply with food safety regulations are not allowed to be sold in Singapore.
The agency advised consumers who had bought the implicated products not to feed them to their children. Those whose children have already consumed the products and have concerns about their children’s health should seek medical advice.
Consumers may contact their point of purchase for enquiries.
