France’s biggest dairy group has become the latest major player to pull infant formula from shelves, as concerns grow about contamination in products meant for the youngest consumers.
Lactalis announced on Wednesday that it is recalling several batches of infant formula in France and more than a dozen other countries over fears they may be contaminated with cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
The move follows a sweeping recall by Nestlé earlier this month, which pulled infant formula from nearly 60 countries, underscoring mounting pressure on the global baby food industry.
Lactalis said it is carrying out a “voluntary recall of six batches of Picot infant milk, available in pharmacies and mass retail, due to the presence of cereulide in an ingredient supplied by a supplier”.
“We are fully aware that this information may cause concern among parents of young children,” the company added.
Beyond France, the recall affects products sold in Australia, Chile, China, Colombia, the Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Spain, Madagascar, Mexico, Uzbekistan, Peru, Georgia, Greece, Kuwait, the Czech Republic and Taiwan, a Lactalis spokesperson told Agence France-Presse. The spokesperson stressed that only “a few batches” were involved in each country.
Lactalis said French authorities have not reported any illnesses linked to the products so far.
The latest recall adds to a turbulent period for infant formula makers. In Singapore, authorities last weekend ordered precautionary recalls of baby formula produced by both Nestlé and Danone after traces of cereulide were detected.
The Singapore Food Agency said it recalled a batch of Danone’s Thai-origin Dumex Dulac 1 and Nestlé’s Swiss-made NAN HA1 SupremePro. Danone later said only “a few pallets” were affected and that the products had not reached store shelves.
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