France has banned the sale and ordered a recall of several baby formula milk and baby food products made by French dairy giant Lactalis after the discovery of salmonella bacteria.
The recall includes products for export, including to China, Taiwan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco, Lebanon, Sudan, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, Greece, Haiti, Colombia and Peru.
Some were also destined for regional markets, including Africa and Asia.
The consumer protection agency DGCCRF says in a statement Lactalis, the world's largest dairy company, had not managed contamination risk and has been ordered to conduct a product recall and halt the sale and export of several baby food products made at its Craon plant in western France since February 15.
The recall follows 20 cases of salmonella infection of infants in France during early December, which had already prompted a limited recall of 12 Lactalis products.
This picture taken on December 4, 2017 shows the Celia dairy company's infant milk factory that belongs to the LNS Lactalis group in Craon, western France. Source: AFP
This week five new cases were reported of infection with the "salmonella agona" bacteria. One of the infants had consumed a Lactalis product that had not been on the first recall list. The infants have now recovered, the agency said.
Lactalis spokesman Michel Nalet said on BFM Television the products can be exchanged in pharmacies or supermarkets. He said any salmonella bacteria would be killed by boiling the milk for two minutes.
