Nestle allays fears over product recall in US

Monday, Jun 22, 2009

Gulf News

Dubai: Nestle Middle East FZE does not import any Nestle Toll House products in the region and remains committed to assisting authorities in all possible ways to ensure that any Middle East outlets that might have imported stocks of the products comply with a full withdrawal, it said in a statement issued to Gulf News on Sunday.

The company was responding to a consumer advisory issued by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) not to consume any varieties of pre-packaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli O157:H7.

The statement further read: "Nestle USA's baking division had initiated a voluntary recall of Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough products. This action is a precaution by Nestle after being notified by Food and Drug Administration, together with the Centres for Disease Control that are conducting investigation into reported E. coli 0157:H7 illness that may be related to consumption of raw cookie dough. While the E. coli strain implicated in this investigation has not been identified in our products, the health and safety of our consumers is paramount, hence the voluntary recall."

A Nestle Middle East source said the company is already in touch with the Dubai Municipality and has made it amply clear that, though it does not import any Nestle Toll House products in the region, the possibility cannot be ruled out that the product is not available in the market as there might be supermarkets that go for direct imports.

A Dubai municipality source said Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough has been linked to an outbreak of E Coli 0157: H7. The dough is not intended to be consumed raw and cooking kills the bacteria. However, Nestle has initiated a voluntary recall. The municipality said an inspection team is check the availability of the product in the market. 'The product is not sold here," said the source.

By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2009. All rights reserved.