A salmonella scare at a French dairy giant has led to a recall of 12 million boxes of baby milk products across 83 countries. The company Lactalis first recalled products from 30 countries in December, but company president Emmanuel Besnier confirmed the problem was worse than first thought.
Adam SmithSunday 14 Jan 2018 5:46 pm
There have been an estimated 35 babies diagnosed with salmonella in France, one in Spain and a possible case in Greece in recent weeks. Besnier said: ‘There are complaints and there will be an investigation with which we will fully collaborate. We never thought to act otherwise.’
Besnier’s grandfather created Lactalis in 1933 and it has grown into a multinational company worth over 17 billion euros with factories in 47 countries. The giant multinational corporation has factories in 47 countries
(Picture: Getty)
He said: ‘We must take account the scale of this operation: more than 12 million boxes are affected, distributors know that everything has to be removed from the shelves.’
The contaminated products are all from the Lactalis factory in Craon, north-west France, where a salmonella bacteria discovery was made public in December. French investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine revealed state inspectors had not detected salmonella in September and gave the factory a clean bill of health, despite the company’s own scientists finding traces in August.
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Recall of French baby milk products extended to 83 countries
PARIS — The head of French dairy company Lactalis says that a recall of baby milk products because of a salmonella scare has been extended to 83 countries from around 30.
In an interview with French weekly Le Journal du Dimanche, the president of Lactalis, Emmanuel Besnier, said that more than 12 million boxes of infant milk products are now concerned. They represent all lots from the Lactalis factory in Craon, northwest France, where the salmonella bacteria was discovered in December.
The move comes after Besnier met Friday with France's economy minister — and a bungled recall operation whose responsibility remains unclear.
The paper said 35 babies were diagnosed with salmonella in France, one in Spain and a possible case in Greece.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/recall-of-french-baby-milk-products-extended-to-83-countries/