The Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation against five manufacturers of infant formula, including Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis, following a series of recalls linked to possible contamination by cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The information was released this Monday (16).
According to the French Public Prosecutor’s Office, the investigation involves suspicion of “deception in relation to products that pose a danger to human health”, a crime that can result in up to seven years in prison and a fine of up to 3.75 million euros. The agency reported that it decided to take on the case due to the high number of complaints registered in the country.
In addition to the three major global dairy companies, the investigation also includes smaller brands Babybio and La Marque en Moins. The crisis has intensified in recent weeks, with .
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Nestlé said it detected traces of cereulide in finished products in early December at a factory in the Netherlands. On December 10, the company informed the Dutch authorities, the European Commission and potentially affected countries, initiating the recall of 25 products in 16 European countries. In January, the company announced a public recall of brands such as SMA, Beba and Little Steps. Danone and Lactalis also promoted product withdrawals.
To date, there have been recalls in more than 60 countries. According to Nestlé, the source of the contamination was traced to a supplier of arachidonic acid oil, an ingredient often added to infant formula. The UK regulatory agency reported that the supplier was no longer used by Nestlé and Danone.
In early February, the European Food Safety Authority set a maximum level for the toxin cereulide, which had no previous harmonized standard due to the rarity of cases. British authorities said they had received at least 36 clinical reports of babies with symptoms compatible with poisoning.
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The French Ministry of Health is also investigating three deaths of babies in situations where there was a report of consumption of the formulas included in the recall. On February 11, the department reported that no causal relationship had been established between the products and the deaths, adding that judicial investigations continue.
