An instant porridge has been withdrawn from sale in South Africa after three young children died reportedly after eating it.

Police spokesperson Lt Col Siphokazi Mawisa told local newspaper the Daily Maverick the children, aged 18 months to four years, had complained of stomach aches after eating Top Score Instant Porridge, before they died on Friday.

Supermarket Spar, where the porridge was purchased, has instructed all stores to remove the product from its shelves.

The Namibian company which made the porridge, Namib Mills, said although, “there is currently no evidence linking our product to this unfortunate event, we are taking the matter very seriously”.

It extended its condolences to the families who have been affected and said their product would be removed while investigations continue.

“We are cooperating fully with all relevant authorities and have also initiated our own internal investigation to ensure complete transparency,” it said.

The three children were from two families in the Eastern Cape province. A fourth child aged seven also reportedly fell ill after eating the porridge but was discharged from the hospital over the weekend.

The children were said to have eaten the vanilla-flavoured porridge, but all flavours have been removed.

It is unclear what exactly caused the death of the three children.

Buffalo City Municipal spokeswoman Bongani Fuzile told the Daily Maverick that samples of the porridge have been taken to the National Health Laboratory Services for testing and analysis.

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