French Prosecutor Launches Investigation into Contaminated Baby Milk Brands

The Paris public prosecutor has initiated five investigations into baby milk brands distributed by Nestle, Lactalis, Danone, Babybio, and La Marque en moins following contamination with the toxin cereulide, as reported on Friday, February 13.

Cereulide, known to cause nausea and vomiting, has been detected in ingredients sourced from a supplier in China for several infant formula manufacturers, including Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis. This alarming discovery has led to precautionary recalls in numerous countries, including France, raising significant concerns among parents.

According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, “The Paris prosecutor’s office decided to take up the case due to the large number of complaints filed nationwide and the technical nature of the investigations.”

Complaints have also been lodged by the association Foodwatch, along with eight individual complaints from families reporting vomiting incidents after their children consumed the affected infant formula, the prosecutor noted.

While Danone has opted not to comment on the situation, the other companies mentioned have not responded to requests for comment outside of regular office hours.

The investigations are examining potential offenses, including fraud related to goods that pose a danger to human health, as well as the failure of food business operators to implement necessary product withdrawals for items deemed harmful to health, according to the prosecutor.

Local prosecutors in the French towns of Angers, Bordeaux, and Blois are also investigating the deaths of three infants to determine if there is a causal link to the consumption of contaminated infant formula. One of the deceased infants, who died in Pessac, southwestern France, had been fed Guigoz powder milk produced by Nestle, as stated by the Bordeaux prosecutor.

Nestle, emphasizing that food safety is its top priority, has indicated that there is currently no evidence linking these tragic events to the consumption of its products.

In an update on Wednesday, France’s health ministry reported that no link has been established so far between the recalled formula and the three infant deaths.

In 14 hospitalizations suspected to be linked to the recalls, consumption of the recalled formula was confirmed in eight cases; however, a causal link to cereulide has not been established. The ministry added that the infants involved have since returned home.

Meanwhile, the European Food Safety Authority has set a threshold for cereulide levels, prompting some producers to withdraw additional products.