DOHA: Qatar has lifted the ban slapped on infant formula Similac Gain Plus last week following media reports that some batches had been found contaminated in neighbouring Saudi Arabia.
Qatari authorities said yesterday they had taken the product, marketed by New Zealand-based dairy giant Fonterra, off the shelves throughout the country early last week and sent samples for laboratory tests, which have shown negative results.
“Laboratory results have shown that the samples are contamination-free,” an informed source from Doha Municipality told Al Sharq.
After media reports of contamination trickled in from several countries, an extensive market survey was launched by the civic authorities locally and samples of the product were collected for laboratory tests, the source said.
And as a precautionary measure a ban on its sale was imposed by the civic ministry pending the lab tests. The daily said that Fonterra Middle East and Africa had confirmed that all of its popular products, including the above baby formula, Anchor, Anlene, Chesdale and WPC80, were 100 percent safe and healthful.
The company has said media reports of contamination in other countries would not adversely affect its popular products in the Qatari market.
