A type of instant porridge has been withdrawn from the market in South Africa following the tragic deaths of three young children, who allegedly fell ill after consuming the product. The children, aged between 18 months and four years, began complaining of stomach pains after eating Top Score Instant Porridge and died on Friday.
Police spokesperson Lt Col Siphokazi Mawisa confirmed the incidents and stated that the three children came from two different families in the Eastern Cape province. In response to the alarming situation, Spar, the supermarket chain where the porridge was sold, has instructed all its stores to remove the product from their shelves.
The company expressed its condolences to the families affected and announced that it would cease sales of the porridge while investigations are conducted.
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Namib Mills, the manufacturer of the porridge, is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and has initiated its own internal investigation. While the company emphasized that there is currently no evidence linking their product to the deaths, they are taking the situation very seriously.
In a concerning development, a fourth child, a seven-year-old, also became ill after consuming the porridge but was released from the hospital over the weekend. All flavors of the Top Score Instant Porridge, including vanilla, have been removed from store inventories as a precautionary measure.
Buffalo City Municipal spokeswoman Bongani Fuzile reported that samples of the porridge have been sent to the National Health Laboratory Services for testing and analysis. The cause of the children’s deaths remains unknown, and authorities are urging anyone with information or who has experienced similar symptoms to come forward.
