Prosecutors in Paris have opened a criminal investigation targeting five manufacturers of infant formula, following successive recalls of products suspected of contamination with cereulide, a dangerous toxin to the health of babies that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Among the withdrawn products are also some sold in Romania.
The investigation concerns dairy industry giants Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis, but also smaller producers such as Babybio and La Marque en Moins, according to CNBC. The Paris prosecutor’s office is investigating the crime of “fraud concerning goods that pose a danger to human health”an act punishable in France by up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 3.75 million euros.
The French Ministry of Health, which also looked into the deaths of three babies suspected of having consumed milk powder from the recalled batches, said on February 11 that no causal link had been established. However, judicial investigations continue.
The crisis of powdered milk contaminated with cereulide has intensified in recent weeks. Although, in most cases, the symptoms disappear within a day, specialists warn that severe complications can occur, especially in infants. Cereulide is a toxin resistant to boiling, which makes it particularly dangerous in foods intended for young children.
Last year, Nestlé identified traces of cereulide in certain batches of milk powder produced at a factory in the Netherlands. On December 10, the company informed the Dutch authorities, the European Commission and potentially affected states, triggering the recall of 25 products distributed in 16 European countries, including Romania. In January, Nestlé announced the first major public recall of its brands SMA, Beba and Little Steps, followed by similar measures taken by Danone and Lactalis.
Later, the recalls were extended, affecting products from more than 60 countries, which amplified the crisis at a global level. The source of the contamination was traced to a supplier of arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, a commonly used ingredient in infant formula. The supplier has not been officially named, but authorities have confirmed that Nestlé and Danone have stopped working with it.
The European authorities established, on February 2, a limit level for the cereulide toxin. Also at the beginning of the month, British authorities announced that they had received 36 clinical reports of infants showing symptoms consistent with cereulide poisoning, recommending that parents check the batches of the products in their homes and follow official warnings.
