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The Zimbabwean government has banned with immediate effect baby powders that are suspected to cause cancer in children. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Air Commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza ordered the immediate removal of Purity Essential and Elizabeth Anne Baby Essentials Powders from shop shelves after dangerous trace levels of asbestos were detected in the products.
Addressing all provincial medical directors, health services directors and chief environmental health officers, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Chimedza said:
“The products contain unacceptable levels of asbestos which causes rare cancer called mesothelioma. The traces were recently detected in test samples prompting the recall of the product.
“Given that a significant number of products in our supermarkets are sourced from South Africa, there is the possibility that some batches of the baby powder in question are already in Zimbabwe. These products should be removed from the shelves or intercepted at points of entry. Let’s inform the public of this harmful product to stop further distribution of the product within the country due to its negative health effects,” read the statement from PS Dr Chimedza.
Purity Essential Baby Powder manufacturers, Tiger Brands of South Africa recently announced the recall of the product saying trace levels of asbestos found do not meet its quality and safety standards.
Asbestos levels are confirmed to cause a rare cancer called mesothelioma.The government has also gone into overdrive further barring importation of the baby powders.
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