Elevated cadmium levels found in Nestle baby food

Related tags Food safety authority

A Nestle-brand baby food is being withdrawn from stores after elevated levels of potentially harmful heavy metal cadmium was found after tests.

A batch of 180g package Kaszka ryzowa jablko (infant rice with apple) have been removed from stores in Ireland supplied by Polish Groceries Galicia Ltd.

Cadmium is potentially toxic to the kidneys and can cause bone demineralisation.

The Nestle product with the batch code 03.2012.106103352 and the best before date 01.03.2012 have been recalled, according to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

The store is also providing point-of sale notices for displays to shops that it has supplied.

No other products or batches are known to be affected by this recall, added the FSAI.

A European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) cadmium exposure assessment is currently on-going to establish a safe legal level for contaminants – such as cadmium - in foodstuffs.

The results, which will be detailed in a scientific report, are expected to be available in January 2012.

FoodProductionDaily.com approached Nestle Poland for comment, but no representative was available before publication.