Recall of new quantities of infant formula in France due to potential bacterial contamination.
French authorities announced on Monday the recall of additional batches of infant formula following a decrease in the maximum allowable threshold for seriolidine, a bacterial toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in infants.
At the same time, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), commissioned by the European Commission to establish a standard for seriolidine in products intended for children, is expected to release its official opinion on Monday.
Affected Brands and Recalled Batches
Two French brands are directly implicated: Popote (Bébé Popote) and Vitagermine (the Babybio brand).
Popote has recalled two batches of Stage 1 infant formula.
Vitagermine has identified three batches to be taken off the market, after confirming that these products, which met the previous standard, now exceed the new safety limit.
According to Vitagermine, “this measure, by halving the recommended threshold, aims to further enhance the safety of infants.” For its part, Popote indicated that it is “immediately applying the new European framework,” recalling two batches of Stage 1 infant formula.
Background on Contamination
Since mid-December, several other brands, including Nestlé, Danone, and Lactalis, have already recalled batches of infant formula due to a potential risk of contamination by seriolidine.
Several manufacturers have pointed fingers at Capbio Biotech, a Chinese supplier of food ingredients producing an oil rich in omega-6 fatty acids, which is suspected of being contaminated by the bacterium Bacillus cereus, known to produce seriolidine.
Due to the rarity of this toxin and the difficulty in detecting it, some products have been withdrawn as a precautionary measure.
Ongoing Investigation
French authorities refer to a “Chinese supplier” without naming it, while several manufacturers utilize this ingredient, raising concerns about national sovereignty and supply chain safety, as noted by some parliamentarians.
At this stage, the judicial investigations launched in Bordeaux (southwest) and Angers (west) following the deaths of infants who consumed recalled Nestlé milk have not established a direct link between the observed symptoms and the milk consumed.
