Nestlé Suspends Operation as Coronavirus Spreads in Factory

Nestlé Egypt announced on Monday that it will temporarily suspend production operations inside a dry goods factory in the 6th of October city after employees contracted the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

The company said in a press statement that it takes all necessary measures in coordination with the Ministry of Health and all other relevant authorities to implement sterilization and disinfection operations at the factory, with production to resume in the near future.

The 6th of October factory produces dry goods such as Crunch, the company’s first made in Egypt chocolate snack.

Nestlé Egypt is a joint stock company specialized in food manufacturing and distribution, including ice cream, coffee, milk powder, infant nutrition, bouillon, confectionery. The client is a 100% owned subsidiary of Nestlé Switzerland.

Meantime, the company stressed its complete concern for the safety of its employees and products, applying the highest international standards for safety, and quality in all its factories.

[caption id="attachment_123664" align="aligncenter" width="572"] Some of Nestlé's products[/caption]

The Swiss company was keen to ensure the continuity of production in its other factories, stressing to provide safe products to clients, adding that the European Food Safety Authority confirmed that there is no risk of contracting the virus from packaged foods and beverages.

Nestlé stressed that maintaining the health and safety of employees is a top priority for the company and since the beginning of the emergence of the pandemic, the company has been working hard to provide safe products for customers, in addition to implementing additional measures to maintain the safety of partners and the communities in which it operates.

The company stressed that since the start of the outbreak and in line with the state’s strategies, the company adheres to strict sterilization, hygiene and disinfection standards and takes additional measures to enhance safety in its factories, offices and distribution centers affiliated to it.

"Nestlé has been keen to strictly apply the rules of social distancing among all employees, including wearing medical masks and constantly sterilizing hands to reduce the chance of contacting the virus in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO),  and Nestlé's global guidelines," the company concluded.

It is noteworthy that Nestlé was formed in 1905 by the merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established by brothers George and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé.