Swiss foodmaker Nestle has made an apology to the public after admitting one of its infant milk powder formulas contains iodine higher than the national standard, according to a report from the China Central Television (CCTV) on Monday.

The milk powder for child growth, produced by a Nestle joint venture in China, was recently found by a food quality report to be "unqualified for containing iodine higher than the national safety standard" set by east China's Zhejiang provincial industrial and commercial bureau.

Mu Li, chief executive of Nestle China, announced that the company apologizes to consumers for its milk powder "unfortunately " containing iodine and deviating from the national safety standard.

"Although we are always committed to national standards, the deviation still happened," the chief executive said.

The company has expressed its willingness to recall all unqualified milk powder already sold. The sale of the milk powder has been suspended in Hangzhou, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

Source: Xinhua