Prosecutors in Paris have opened investigations into five baby formula manufacturers after several issued mass recalls over concerns their product contained a toxin. Nestle, Lactalis, Danone, Babybio and La Marque en moins will be probed over whether there was any criminal wrongdoing in distributing baby formula that may have been contaminated with cereulide.
French authorities have received complaints from eight individuals who reported that their children vomited after consuming baby formula. Last week, Nestle and Danone recalled products in more than 60 countries, including the UK, due to concerns over potentially contaminated batches. At least 36 UK infants have suffered from suspected food poisoning linked to these products.
Cereulide is a toxin resistant to cooking methods and can cause symptoms such as nausea and abdominal cramps when ingested. It's been linked to arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, which some formulas use to mimic breast milk. The contamination reportedly stems from a third-party supplier, now thought to be a Chinese company, identified as Wuhan-based Cabio Biotech, which is no longer supplying ARA.
Investigators will look into the linkage between this contamination and the tragic deaths of three infants in France, although there is currently no evidence suggesting that the tainted formula caused these fatalities. Recalled batches produced by Nestle and Danone are believed to have been manufactured in the past and are unlikely still to be available in stores, prompting parents to check their homes for affected products. To boost formula availability in the wake of the recall, Nestle intends to operate five of its factories around the clock in Europe.
French authorities have received complaints from eight individuals who reported that their children vomited after consuming baby formula. Last week, Nestle and Danone recalled products in more than 60 countries, including the UK, due to concerns over potentially contaminated batches. At least 36 UK infants have suffered from suspected food poisoning linked to these products.
Cereulide is a toxin resistant to cooking methods and can cause symptoms such as nausea and abdominal cramps when ingested. It's been linked to arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, which some formulas use to mimic breast milk. The contamination reportedly stems from a third-party supplier, now thought to be a Chinese company, identified as Wuhan-based Cabio Biotech, which is no longer supplying ARA.
Investigators will look into the linkage between this contamination and the tragic deaths of three infants in France, although there is currently no evidence suggesting that the tainted formula caused these fatalities. Recalled batches produced by Nestle and Danone are believed to have been manufactured in the past and are unlikely still to be available in stores, prompting parents to check their homes for affected products. To boost formula availability in the wake of the recall, Nestle intends to operate five of its factories around the clock in Europe.
