The Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA) has issued a public alert following an international notification regarding the recall of ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. The recall is linked to a multistate outbreak of infant botulism in the United States of America.
The alert was disseminated via the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN). Infant botulism is a serious illness that often begins with symptoms of constipation. It is typically first identified by signs such as difficulty feeding, including problems with sucking and swallowing, a weak or altered cry, and a lack of head control.
The recall affects all ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula products, encompassing all lot numbers and all sizes of cans and single-serve packets. The product has been distributed online through major retailers, including Amazon.com, which has reportedly notified all customers who purchased ByHeart items via its platform.
In response, the BDFA has confirmed that the affected brand is not imported commercially into Brunei. However, the authority is urging members of the public who may have brought the product into the country as a personal concession or purchased it through an online platform to stop using it immediately.
The BDFA took this opportunity to remind the public of the Public Health (Food) Act (Chapter 182). Under Section 9, subsection (1), subparagraph (i), any person who prepares, sells, or imports a food item that can harm health is liable to imprisonment for up to five years, a fine or both.
THE BRUNEIAN | BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
