False social network rumors quashed by dairy company and Health Ministry

RUMORS that have appeared on social networks about contamination in dairy products from Panama’s largest purchaser of milk have been vigorously denied by the company and the Ministry of Health.

Estrella Azul, which also supplies 90% of Panama’s ice cream, has been undergoing extensive restructuring of its production facilities, which led to a month’s hiatus in the supply of ice cream which may have fueled uninformed comments. The company issued corrective information through full page advertisements in Panama’s leading newspapers

The statement said “The rumor that is circulating on social networks about our milk products is totally false.
“All our milk products go through a pasteurization process to eliminate microorganisms able to affect the health of our consumers.
“It is totally false that there are persons today, affected by our products.
“Estrella Azul reaffirms its commitment to producing healthy, high quality products for our consumers”

MoH REACTS

The Ministry of Health (MoH) Directorate General of Health issued a statement on its official web-site, which reads:

“With regard to the comments that have emerged in social networks regarding Brucellosis and Salmonella contamination in dairy products of Estrella Azul in our country, the MoH announced the following:
“Plants producing cheese and milk for the company have been inspected regularly and carefully and fully comply with the health standards according to evidence.
Importantly, there are no reported outbreaks of diarrhea and vomiting associated with the consumption of dairy products in the country in the past 7 weeks.
MINSA reiterates that citizens can be assured that the food products they consume are supervised at all healthcare processes and the National Department of Food Protection suspends the production of any product that does not strictly comply with all security measures and standards for the processing.”
One Facebook user received nearly 40 get well messages, but posted a note saying neither she or her family were suffering any illness.

In April 2013 Estrella Azul opened a new $20million pant designed to process and pack premium line – Estrella Azul brand dairy products , juices , nectars and drinks with the latest technology Tetra Top and Tetra Gemina ( TT / TG ) .
In May 2011, The Estrella Azul Group was acquired by Coca- Cola FEMSA and The Coca -Cola Company
The acquistion was regarded as very important to the growth strategy of Coca -Cola FEMSA which allowing it to enter into the category of milk and value-added dairy products , one of the most dynamic segments in the non-alcoholic beverages industry in Latin America, and also strengthen its portfolio of non-carbonated beverage segment juice based drinks .
Coca -Cola FEMSA , S.A.B. de C.V. produces and distributes Coca -Cola, Fanta, Sprite , Del Valle , and other trademark beverages of The Coca -Cola Company in Mexico,, Central and, South America and the Philippines. plus water bottled water, juices , teas, sports drinks, beer and other beverages in some of these territories. The Company has 60 bottling facilities and serves approximately 315 million consumers through over 2,500,000 retailers with more than 100,000 employees world wide.
The Estrella Azul Industries Group is dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of milk , yogurt, cheese , ice cream , juices , juices , jams and tomato sauces under the brands Estrella Azul, De Oro, Vaquita, Vita Slim , Del Prado and Plamosa in Panama . The group, founded in 1956, has three production plants and serves the entire national territory, providing close to 1,800 direct jobs and is a leader in the dairy segment in the country. It is currently the largest buyer of milk in Panama.