Fake infant formula hits stores as genuine remains out of stock

A brand of Lactogen baby formula  PHOTO | THE CITIZEN PHOTOJOURNALIST 

By Saumu Mwalimu,The Citizen Reporter

In Summary

• Another brand of Lactogen baby formula which has not been registered by the regulator is on the market

Dar es Salaam. Unscrupulous traders have taken advantage of the shortage of baby formulas to import and sell uncertified products, The Citizen on Saturday can report.

This plot enables them to cash in from unsuspecting and apprehensive mothers who for more than three months now have been looking for the products but in vain.

About three weeks ago The Citizen on Saturday exclusively reported panic among lactating mothers after importers of Lactogen conceded the shortage of the product. Mothers were also looking for other popular brands like S-26 and SMA, which have also run out of stock.

Further investigations by this paper have established that some traders have imported in the country another brand of Lactogen baby formula which has not been registered by the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority (TFDA).

The authority has since warned people to be wary of the new brand, which they can easily identify through its labelling.

Unlike the registered brand whose instructions are in English and Kiswahili, the circulating product has its instructions printed in English and French.

Speaking to this reporter recently, the spokesperson of TFDA, Ms Gaudencia Simwanza, said the matter has also been brought to their attention and urged mothers to be very careful when buying powdered milk for their babies.

“They should look for brands whose labels have been written in Kiswahili and English, that should be the number one indication that the product has our blessings. Kiswahili is the language that most mothers in our country understand,” she cautioned.

According to her, manufacturers have been given the condition of not using images of a healthy baby on the containers of infant formulas. The rationale, she said, is to discourage mothers from believing that the formulas are better than mother’s milk. Lactating mothers are encouraged to as much as possible breastfeed their babies. This, she said was another indicator that mothers should watch out.

Third, the formulas should not have any pictures of toys and last the instructions should be printed in the steel cane and not the paper label.

“Infant formula is one of the high risk products and because the person using it cannot communicate until the effects are shown up using various body signs, therefore, TFDA is keen to make sure that only safe products reach our market. Mothers should be careful when they reach the store counters, otherwise they should consult the doctors before changing to another brand to prevent their babies from any allergy development,” said Ms Simwanza.

The spokesperson also dealt a blow to mothers who have also been looking for another popular brand, SMA, which is also out of stock in many shops. She noted that the popular powdered milk was not in the list of products registered by TFDA

The list of certified baby formulas released by TFDA, according to Ms Simwanza, include Lactogen 1, 2 and 3, Nan 1 and 2, S-26 Gold, Promil Gold 2, Progress Gold 3, Tina infant formula as well as Infracare 1, 2 and 3.

“We have already started inspections to make sure that only the registered brands are in the market and mothers should switch only after consulting the doctors,” she added.

Speaking earlier, the official importer of Lactogen, Nestle Sea Trading, admitted the continued shortage of the products hinting also that it is possible for unscrupulous importers to take advantage of such situation.

According to Nestle’s scientific and regulatory affairs manager Marsha Yambi, the only best option mothers could do is consulting their baby’s specialists.

“In situation like this unfaithful people usually take advantage, we are not sure but the brands in the market might be coming from South Africa which are not yet registered with the TFDA, but we still insist that mother’s milk is the best for your baby,” said Ms Yambi.

Although mother’s milk is the best and important for infant development for the first six months after birth, mothers who have already introduced their children with the infant formulas in Dar es Salaam continue to face the serious challenge in feeding their babies.

The little right feeding education mothers usually have, give them a major challenge especially on making decision to brand switching.

With majority fear to develop allergies to their children, some mothers are forced to shift from one brand to another.

Ms Tatiana Jaibu had to introduce her eight-month-old son to cow milk fearing that the brands in the market might be counterfeit.

“I know that, I need to introduce him to cow milk until at least when he’s a-year-old, but I find it better that he starts now rather than buying the Lactogen available in the market for which I don’t understand the language used,” said Ms Jaibu.