Edmonton police are investigating two incidents of baby food allegedly being tampered with at two Walmart stores in south Edmonton.
This comes after the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued a warning Wednesday for people who buy infant formula, after it became aware of reports “of tampering by product substitution in an infant formula product” at a southeast Edmonton Walmart store.
The CFIA said infant formula products had been found where the tamper-proof seals had been broken and the product inside the containers had been substituted.
“There have been no illnesses associated with these complaints,” the CFIA said.
READ MORE: Tampered baby formula discovered in Brampton, Mississauga
The CFIA said it received reports of the tampering and that it allegedly stemmed from the Walmart at 775 Tamarack Way N.W. in Edmonton.
“This type of issue is not typically associated with the manufacturing process but can occur occasionally when a consumer returns altered products to the retail store for a refund,” the CFIA said.
Walmart Canada said food safety is and will always be a top priority for the company.
“We take these matters very seriously,” Adam Grachnik, director of corporate affairs with Walmart Canada, said in a statement.
“We are aware of the CFIA consumer advisory and are investigating further with our store at 775 Tamarack Way N.W. in Edmonton.
“The product in question has been removed from the store floor while we investigate.”
Walmart did not say what brand of baby formula was affected.
READ MORE: Woman allegedly replaced baby formula with flour. Then a baby got sick: police
Early Thursday morning, the company said Edmonton police had been alerted to the tampering, however, at that time EPS said it had not been contacted and an investigation was not underway.
That changed a few hours later, when police said Walmart had since contacted EPS regarding alleged incidents at two of its Edmonton stores: the one in Tamarack, and a second store on Calgary Trail.
Grachnik later confirmed to Global News that a Walmart on Calgary Trail “has identified potentially tampered-with infant formula products.”
“We are continuing to investigate and are working closely with local police and the CFIA,” he said.
Edmonton police said they were investigating the incidents as frauds, as opposed to malicious intent.
The CFIA offered tips for what to do if you suspect formula has been tampered with.
“Consumers using infant formulas should examine the packaging material to ensure that the security seal is intact and has not been altered or the product substituted,” the agency said on its website.
“If you have product that appears to have been altered, do not use or consume it and contact your local law enforcement authority or the CFIA.”
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