Popular instant porridge linked to the deaths of 3 kids, product pulled from shelves
Three young children, two one-year-olds and a four-year-old, tragically lost their lives after consuming a well-known brand of instant porridge, sparking an urgent recall of the product across South Africa and Namibia. The incident occurred in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, where the children fell ill after eating Top Score Instant Maize Porridge, a product manufactured by Namib Mills.
As reported by **Cape {town} Etc** and **Daily Maverick**, the children, identified as Lithembelihle Bambela (4 years old), Iminathi Bambela (17 months), and Live Ndudane (18 months), complained of stomach issues shortly after eating the porridge. They were rushed to a local clinic for treatment but, tragically, did not survive. A fourth child who consumed the porridge received medical attention and survived.
The police were called to investigate the scene, and three inquest dockets have been opened. Lieutenant Colonel Siphokazi Mawisa, the police spokesperson, confirmed that the children had eaten the porridge before showing signs of illness. The product, purchased at a Spar Highway store in Mdantsane, has since been removed from shelves across Spar stores in the Eastern Cape as a precautionary measure.
Namib Mills, the manufacturer, has since recalled Top Score Instant Maize Porridge in both South Africa and Namibia. Marné Bouwer, the Senior Brand Manager at Namib Mills, confirmed the recall after the Spar Group issued a letter suspending distribution of the product. The recall affects all items in the Top Score line, particularly the vanilla-flavored variant, which the children had consumed. Spar expressed its deepest condolences to the affected families, stating it is working closely with local authorities and conducting comprehensive food safety testing to determine the exact cause of the deaths.
Buffalo City Metro Municipality has also urged retailers, including supermarkets and spaza shops, to carefully inspect their stock and cease selling any suspected batches of the porridge until further notice. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities emphasizing the importance of precautionary measures while the final lab results are awaited.
