France probes link between two baby deaths and milk formula as Irish-made products included in recall

"Both babies drank formula that has been recalled, the French health ministry said in a statement late on Thursday. No causal link between the deaths and the affected products has been established at this point, health minister Stephanie Rist told BFM TV on Friday. One of the babies drank Nestlé's recalled Guigoz formula in early January, the prosecutor's office in Bordeaux said."

"The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has advised the Irish public that Danone is recalling specific batches of its formulas because of the potential presence of cereulide. The implicated products were manufactured in Ireland, but the FSAI said it had been notified by Danone that none of the implicated products have been distributed in the country. However, the products have been exported to a number of EU countries, the UK and third countries. The FSAI has notified the European Commission of this recall."

Two infants consumed batches of infant formula that have been recalled and later died. Authorities have said no causal link between the deaths and the affected products has been established so far. One infant drank Nestlé's recalled Guigoz formula in early January; prosecutors in Bordeaux and Angers are probing the cases. Tests showed the formula did not contain Bacillus cereus, and results are awaited for the cereulide toxin and autopsy findings. Danone is recalling specific batches manufactured in Ireland over potential cereulide contamination; the FSAI said affected products were exported but not distributed in Ireland, and the European Commission has been notified.

Read at Irish Independent