LOCAL retailers who import Nestle Kit Kat Chocolates from South Africa have been dealt a low blow and are likely to lose lots of money following a recent announcement by the Ministry of Health that the importation of those products has to stop.

The ministry has also called for the removal of the products from the shelves. This, after the South African brand, Nestle admitted and called for the recall and restriction of these products from the shops as a precautionary measure.

Lesotho depends on South Africa for much of its economic imports with 85 percent of goods imported from the neighbouring country.

A ban, therefore, represents a massive blow for local retailers.  

 “As a precaution, Nestle South Africa is initiating a voluntary recall of a limited number of Kit Kat milk chocolate products due to the possibility that they may contain glass pieces,” the company said in a statement.

“To date, we have not received any complaints or reported injuries. We are taking this action out of an abundance of caution having discovered the presence of small pieces of glass during our quality and safety checks.”

The company said consumers who might have purchased the products should not consume them but should instead return them to the place where they were purchased for a full refund.

On Tuesday, the Ministry of Health confirmed that authorities from South Africa have warned that specific products affected by the recall have been subjected to international distribution to Lesotho.

“The ministry therefore instructs environmental health officers to see to it that all these products are removed from the shelves and guide their safe disposal,” the Director General of Health Services, Dr ’Nyane Letsie said.

“Again, the port health officers are instructed to ensure that no such products are imported into Lesotho. The business operators who deal with these products are also ordered to stop forthwith from selling or exposing them for sale.”