BULAWAYO – Zimbabwe’s health ministry on Monday issued a consumer warning after South African packaged goods company Tiger Brands recalled Purity Essentials Baby Powder amid concerns over possible asbestos contamination.
Traces of asbestos were detected in test samples from a batch of pharmaceutical-grade talc powder used as raw material in the production of finished powder products.
The unacceptable level of asbestos can cause an aggressive and deadly form of cancer called mesothelioma, occurring in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of a human body’s internal organs.
Health secretary Jasper Chimedza said in a statement: “Given that a significant number of products in our supermarkets are sourced from South Africa, there is a possibility that some batches of the baby powder in question are already in Zimbabwe.”
Purity Essentials Baby Powder/Purity & Elizabeth Anne’s Essentials Baby Powder 100g, 200g, and 400g with barcodes 6009523601859, 6009523601866, and 6009523601828 are the packages which are being recalled.
The 400g Purity & Elizabeth Anne’s Fresh Baby Powder with a barcode of 6009523604515 is also part of the products which authorities are warning should not be consumed.
Tiger Brands said “the batch of raw material with the detected trace levels of asbestos does not meet the company’s strict quality and safety standards.”
