PARIS: A recall of potentially contaminated newborn milk formula in 60 countries has taken a legal turn in France, with a watchdog and eight families filing a complaint accusing producers and the government of moving too slowly.
Eight French families who claim their newborns experienced serious stomach problems after drinking the recalled formula have joined Foodwatch’s complaint, which AFP has seen. The complaint, which does not name any manufacturers or government organizations, begs for a formal probe.
Foodwatch, a European consumer organization, argues that producers could not have ignored the risks to babies by selling their milk in France and more than a dozen other European nations, as well as Australia, Russia, Qatar, and Egypt.
Since December, several manufacturers, including majors such as Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis, have recalled infant formula in over 60 countries, including France, due to a potential of cereulide contamination.
Cereulide, a toxin generated by some bacteria, is “likely to cause primarily digestive problems, such as vomiting or diarrhea, according to the French health ministry, which stated last week that it had not yet established a link to the infants’ symptoms.
Foodwatch charges milk powder manufacturers with delaying action between the original warnings in December and the recalls, some of which were not publicly publicized. They became increasingly common in January.
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