European Formula Linked to US Botulism Cases; Taiwan FDA Confirms No Imports

Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed that a European-manufactured infant formula, Nara Organics, implicated in botulism cases in the United States, has not been imported or registered in Taiwan within the past three years. The product recall was initiated in the U.S. following reports of infants falling ill after consuming the formula.

The specific product under scrutiny is Nara Organics' "Whole Milk Powdered Infant Formula." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a recall notice for the item on May 8th due to potential contamination with botulinum toxin. This has led to a product withdrawal by the manufacturer.

Liao Tzu-ting, a senior technical specialist at the FDA's Food Safety Department, stated that a search of the agency's border inspection system using keywords like "Nara" for product names, trademarks, and manufacturers revealed no import records for the implicated product in the last three years. Furthermore, an examination of infant and follow-on formula registration data indicated that "Nara Organics Whole Milk Infant Formula" does not have any registered records in Taiwan.

While the product is not available in Taiwan, the FDA cautioned the public to avoid purchasing or consuming it if they are traveling to the United States. Botulinum toxin primarily affects the peripheral nervous system, causing symptoms such as blurred vision, double vision, drooping eyelids, dilated pupils, facial paralysis, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, and speech impairment. In severe cases, it can lead to respiratory failure and death.