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Nestle and Danone are facing fresh scrutiny over the handling of infant formula contamination after French, Belgian and Swiss media questioned the speed of recalls of potentially harmful products.
The investigation by Radio France, RTBF and RTS said Nestle had delayed alerting European authorities about the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and poses particular risks for infants.
The toxin was detected in an ingredient supplied by China’s CABIO Biotech and used by several infant formula makers, including Nestle, Danone and Lactalis. The contamination triggered infant formula recalls in several countries and fuelled concerns among parents.
Nestle, which did not immediately reply to a request for comment, was quoted as saying it had followed a strict process involving assessment, traceability checks and identification of affected products before public recalls were launched.
Danone also did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Nestle had previously said it first detected low cereulide levels in product samples in late November but stopped using all mixes containing the supplier’s arachidonic acid oil after contamination was confirmed on 24 December.
It notified the supplier on 29 December and analysed samples until 3 January to determine the issue’s scope, before launching public recalls from 5 January.
Radio France said 838,000 cans of infant formula were held back from 26 December at Nestle’s factory in northern France and other production sites.
It said products already on the market remained in distribution channels or consumers’ homes without an official recall or immediate notification to European authorities, despite rules requiring prompt reporting when a health risk is identified.
The media outlets also said Nestle carried out “silent” withdrawals in Austria and Germany from 24 December, while Danone products were withdrawn from sale in January before public recalls were issued.
Prosecutors in the French cities of Bordeaux and Angers have ruled out a link between the deaths of infants and recalled formula products. Another investigation opened in Meaux was transferred to Paris, Radio France said.
– Reuters