HIBAPRESS – Ahmed Al-Musaed
In a preemptive step reflecting the vigilance of the national regulatory system, a joint regional committee in the city of Berkane initiated a large-scale precautionary seizure operation targeting quantities of infant formula belonging to a private company. This operation comes within the framework of "precautionary withdrawal" measures to ensure the health safety of infants, and in response to international reports warning of bacterial risks in some global varieties.
The operation witnessed field coordination, as the regional committee included the head of the Economic Affairs and Control Department of the Berkane Prefecture, the head of the Veterinary Department at the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), the head of the Health and Environment Unit at the delegation of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as well as the judicial police services and representatives of the local authority. The seizure operation was carried out in direct coordination with the Moroccan Agency for Medicines and Health Products, to ensure the accurate withdrawal of the concerned batches and their compliance with the applicable legal standards, and ended with the immediate destruction of the seized quantities in accordance with the adopted administrative and environmental procedures. These moves fall within the context of a global crisis that has affected major brands (such as Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis), based on recommendations issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Scientific reports indicate that the source of the danger lies in the Bacillus cereus bacteria, capable of producing the toxic "Cereulide" substance, which may cause serious health complications in infants, necessitating immediate intervention to prevent any product of questionable safety from reaching pharmacy shelves or central markets.
