Baby food products recalled due to rodents puncturing packages

Countdown is recalling three brands of baby food bags after holes found in the packaging came from rodents.

Any customer who has purchased Smiling Tums, Only Organics or Natureland baby bags at Countdown, SuperValue and Fresh Choice stores are required to return the product to the nearest store for a full refund.

Countdown General Manager for Food Safety Kiri Hannifin says Countdown sincerely apologizes to customers for the discomfort the past 24 hours may have caused.

“As a mother, I know that the safety of the food you feed your baby is most important. We sincerely apologize for any distress it has caused to our customers, our suppliers and their families.

The concern arose on Saturday after damaged packages were found at Countdowns in Birkenhead, Milford, Meadowbank and Three Kings in Auckland, as well as Supervalue Avondale and Countdown Carlyle in Napier.

The preventive recall includes all dates, all flavors and all batches of these products.
Hannifin said that a combination of heavy rains in Auckland and a strong attraction to sweeter or fruit-based baby food flavors has caused damage to mice at two of Countdown’s distribution centers in Auckland.

Countdown has found evidence of mouse activity in some boxes of the older brand’s baby bags. As a precautionary measure, all stocks of these products will be removed from distribution centers and stores.

These products should not be consumed whether or not they are damaged, due to possible contamination by mice.

Mouse activity is not related to any of the brands themselves, their production or transportation process.

“We ask our customers to bring the affected products to their local store, or for online customers, call our customer care team on 0800 40 40 40, for a full refund. We thank the New Zealand Police and to the Ministry of Primary Industries for their support in helping to rule out other causes of the damage, “says Kiri Hannifin.

“There have been no reports of illness, however if your baby has used this product and you have concerns, seek medical attention.”