French dairy giant Lactalis has become the latest manufacturer to recall batches of baby formula due to the potential presence of a toxin.
In a statement (translated from French) this week, it said: “Lactalis Nutrition Santé (LNS) is carrying out a voluntary recall of six batches of Picot brand infant milk, available in pharmacy networks and in large retail outlets, due to the presence of cereulide in an ingredient from a supplier.
“This recall follows an alert from the French professional association for infant nutrition regarding the potential presence of cereulide in an ingredient (ARA omega-6) sourced from an international supplier and used in the composition of certain infant formulas.”
Cereulide can cause digestive problems, resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea.
“Upon receiving this alert, and in parallel with the analyses requested from the supplier of the ingredient in question, LNS immediately launched analyses with an accredited independent laboratory in order to test the potentially affected products,” the statement continued.
Initial analyses, conducted on the ARA ingredient and the finished product using a standardised international method, all yielded compliant results.
The company then requested further analyses of the reconstituted product (i.e., the prepared bottle).
“These latest analyses, received on January 20, revealed the presence of cereulide, leading LNS, as a precautionary measure, to initiate a voluntary recall of the affected batches.”
LNS added that it is “fully aware that this information may cause concern among parents of young children”.
“At this stage, no complaints or reports related to the consumption of these products have been received from the French authorities, with whom we are in close contact,” it said.
The LNS products recall affects a large number of countries around the world, but Ireland is not specified.
Danone and Nestlé recalls
The notice by Lactalis follows recalls of Danone and Nestlé baby formula products as well.
In recent days, authorities in Singapore recalled a Danone Dumex product and an additional Nestlé SupremePro product as a “precautionary measure” while investigations are ongoing, following a previous direction to stop the sale of Nestlé infant formulas due to potential presence of the toxin.
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) said additionally that it has “confirmed that a Singapore-based manufacturer, SMC Nutrition, had used the same raw ingredient in some of their infant formula products meant for export”.
“We have directed SMC Nutrition to stop the export of the affected products and notified the competent authority of the importing country,” it said.
According to the SFA, “there is one case who had consumed the affected product with mild symptoms likely associated with cereulide exposure”.
“The case has since recovered. Currently, there are no definitive clinical laboratory tests to confirm cereulide poisoning,” the agency said.
“The Communicable Diseases Agency is working closely with SFA and is conducting surveillance with medical practitioners to monitor for potential cases of cereulide poisoning in children.”
FSAI
Nestlé this month has recalled a number of batches in Ireland of SMA infant formula and follow on formula due to the potential presence of cereulide.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) said that cereulide toxin is produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
“The toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant,” the FSAI said.
“Consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting.
“Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually six to 24 hours.”
Parents, guardians and care givers are advised not to feed the implicated batches to infants or young children.
