Government waiting for SA update on alleged instant porridge deaths

WINDHOEK, 08 OCT (NAMPA) – The Ministry of Health and Social Services will, once available, share the results of the forensic investigation into the deaths of three children in South Africa who allegedly consumed Namibian-produced Top Score instant porridge.
The incident reportedly occurred over a week ago in the Eastern Cape in South Africa, when two toddlers and a baby reportedly fell ill after eating the vanilla-flavoured instant porridge. They were subsequently taken to a nearby clinic and passed on shortly after.
The Executive Director in the Ministry of Health and Social Services, Ben Nangombe, in a media statement on Monday said laboratory tests are being conducted in South Africa and the ministry will share the results once received from the stakeholders involved. He stressed that the ministry is responsible for consumer food safety in line with the Public Health and Environmental Act, of 2015.
“The Ministry of Health and Social Services as the custodian of food safety in the country instructed environmental health practitioners in the ministry, and local authorities, to recall the above-mentioned food products in the best interest of customers and to inform the community members that have the product at household level not to use the products until the investigation is finalised,” Nangombe said.
(NAMPA)
EB/EK/AS