Holes Found in Baby Food Products: Police Investigate, Parents Urged to Check Items

Police are investigating after baby food in squeeze bags was found to have damage, including holes, and food safety officials are telling parents to check the products.

About 30 bags of baby food in six Auckland supermarkets, and one in Napier, were found with damaged packaging, NZ Food Safety reported today.

“Our advice to parents is to check the packaging of baby food bags before use. You can lightly squeeze the package to identify any holes or other damage,” said Food Safety Compliance Director Gary Orr.

“In all the damaged product that has been identified thus far, the holes have been prominent and easy to see loosely. Of course, no product should be consumed with any damaged packaging.

“To be on the safe side, if you have a question about any bag of baby food in your home, please let the retailer know and return it to the store if you can, as this could help us track down the cause of the damage. If you have any medical concerns about your children, seek medical advice. “

Orr said packaging damage occurs from time to time in the manufacturing and distribution process.

“While we have not yet been able to be definitive about the cause of the damaged baby food packages in this case, we are investigating the possibility that it is the result of a manufacturing fault.”

However, the matter has been referred to the police to rule out the possibility that the damage was deliberate.

“The police are conducting a series of investigations to establish the circumstances of how the damage occurred.”

The brands in which the damaged product has been identified are Only Organic, Natureland and Smiling Tums.

The stores in which damaged product has been identified are:

• Birkenhead Countdown, Auckland: 15 packages
• Milford Countdown, Auckland – 4 packages
• Meadowlands Countdown, Auckland – 1 package
• Three Kings Countdown, Auckland – 2 packages
• SuperValue Avondale, Auckland: 6 packages
• Carlyle Countdown, Napier – 1 pack

Woolworths New Zealand has checked all baby food in all of its stores and distribution centers across the country to make sure no damaged product is left on the shelves. Foodstuffs is in the process of verifying all baby food in its stores across the country.