[THE INVESTOR] South Korean government on Aug. 19 banned sales of baby formula by Nestle Korea for containing sodium selenite.

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said it stopped sales and ordered a recall of Beba Optipro 2 and Beba Optipro 3 after the prohibited substance was found in the formulas.

Under the regulation, sodium selenite, a food additive, can be used in powdered milk and other dietary formulas, but it is restricted from infant formula.

“Sodium selenite is not harmful to the body. But we decided to recall Nestle Korea’s products as it violated the food additive standard,” the ministry said. “We ask the consumers who purchased the products to return them back to the seller.”

By Ahn Sung-mi (sahn@heraldcorp.com)