French Dairy Company Expands International Recall of Baby Milk

French dairy conglomerate Lactalis is expanding it worldwide recall of baby milk which was initially posted earlier this month.  In France alone, over 30 babies have become infected with Salmonella after consuming Lactalis product.   While product has been shipped to approximately 30 countries worldwide, it is not clear if infants in other countries have become ill.  Product in the US is not affected.

This is one of those incidents that will become a case study for what not to do....as soon as they figure out how this got so out of control.

Washington Post
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Europe
Mass recall of French-made baby milk over salmonella fears

By Jeffrey Schaeffer and Angela Charlton | AP  

December 21 at 7:06 AM  

PARIS — A tainted baby milk scandal affecting some 30 countries is growing, as French dairy giant Lactalis recalled millions more products globally because of fears of salmonella contamination.

Pharmacies and supermarkets pulled cans and bottles of baby milk off shelves Thursday as the company — one of the world’s biggest names in dairy — scrambled to contain the damage.

Lactalis had already recalled several million baby milk products earlier this month. On Thursday, the company expanded the recall to all products made in its factory in Craon in western France since February “as a precautionary measure.”

In a statement, Lactalis apologized to customers and said investigations confirmed the outbreak began after renovation work earlier this year at the Craon site. Production has been halted at the site.

French health authorities have said 31 infants around France contracted salmonella in recent months within days of consuming baby milk made in Lactalis’ factory at Craon. Sixteen were hospitalized but later released and are now doing fine, according to a statement from the government public health agency.

It is unclear whether children in other countries have also fallen ill.

The symptoms of salmonella infection include abdominal cramps, diarrhea and fever. Most people recover without treatment.

Lactalis spokesman Michel Nalet told The Associated Press on Thursday that the newest recall affects about 30 countries but did not have a breakdown of which ones.

A French government list earlier this month said countries affected include Britain, Greece, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Sudan, Peru and Colombia. The United States is a major market for Lactalis but is not affected by the recall. The company has production sites in 47 countries, including the U.S.

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