Foodstuffs and Countdown have moved to reassure consumers of the safety and security of infant formula products sold in its stores following threats of poisonings.
Both companies have advised they have implemented additional security protocol across Countdown, New World, and Pak’nSave stores.
Countdown’s acting MD, Steve Donohue, said security is now in place from the time the product arrives at Countdown’s distribution centres to when it is purchased by a customer in stores.
“As a retailer of infant formula, Countdown is doing everything possible to keep infant formula safe in our supermarkets,” Donohue said.
“Some of these security measures will mean it takes a little bit more time for customers to purchase infant formula, but together these steps will ensure constant monitoring of the product, either in person or by CCTV. Consumer safety is our absolute priority and we are supporting the NZ Police and MPI investigation in any way we can.”
The security increase takes in the removal of infant formula product from the main shelf to behind service counters or Lotto desks so product is monitored either in person or by CCTV, CCTV cameras on the product at all times in storage and when behind the counter, and random sampling of infant formula product.
FoodStuffs says all customers entering a New World or Pak’nSave store will be subject to heightened surveillance and higher security instore.
Extra measures include continuous CCTV monitoring of shelves, signage advising customers of the threat, and the physical presence of an ‘Infant Formula Milk Monitor’ at the shelf responsible for visually monitoring the product.
