France probes deaths of two babies after powdered milk recall

"France's Health Minister on Friday sought to reassure consumers that all suspicious infant formula had been withdrawn, as an investigation began into the deaths of two babies who drank possibly contaminated powdered milk. The infant formula industry has been rocked in recent weeks by several firms recalling batches that could be contaminated with cereulide, a toxin that can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. The potentially contaminated milk has been "withdrawn" from the market, Health Minister Stephanie Rist said."

"French investigators are looking into the cause of death of two infants who allegedly consumed Nestle milk. One was a two-week-old who died on January 8 in Bordeaux, southwest France, after drinking milk from the now-recalled batches, a prosecutor in the city said on Thursday. The second, aged just 27 days, died on December 23 in the western city ofAngers, the local prosecutor said."

"In another recall, Danone on Friday said it would "withdraw from targeted markets a very limited number of specific batches of infant formula" to comply with the latest guidance from local food safety authorities. A source close to the matter said the move followed changes introduced by authorities, notably in Ireland. Danone later told AFP in a statement it was voluntarily recalling two batches in France as a precaution "in light of new recommendations from a European authority"."

Health authorities withdrew suspicious batches of infant formula over concerns about contamination with cereulide, a toxin that can cause diarrhoea and vomiting. French investigators opened probes into the deaths of two infants who reportedly consumed recalled Nestle milk, though no causal link has been established so far. Nestle said it would cooperate with investigations and stated there was no evidence linking its products to the deaths at this stage. Danone voluntarily recalled very limited batches in some markets to follow new European guidance. Singapore authorities also recalled Dumex baby formula amid the wider series of recalls.

Read at The Local France