France has reduced the permitted safety limit for cereulide toxin in infant formula, seeking to improve consumer protection after several major companies ordered global recalls due to contamination fears, the agriculture ministry said today.
Cereulide, a toxin that can trigger nausea and vomiting, was found in ingredients produced at a factory in China that supplies many baby formula manufacturers, including Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis, prompting recalls in dozens of countries and alarming parents, reports RTE.
According to the ministry, the revised limit will be set at 0.014 micrograms of cereulide per kilogram of body weight, down from the current threshold of 0.03 micrograms per kilogram.
The decision follows a European Union meeting held on 28 January and aligns with updated guidance from the European Food Safety Authority that is due to be published on Monday, reports RTE.
Officials said the lower limit is expected to result in additional product withdrawals in France over the coming days.
The recalls highlight how a single tainted ingredient can move through the tightly regulated infant nutrition supply chain and quickly unsettle markets, reports RTE.
French investigators said on 23 January they are examining whether there may be a connection between the deaths of two infants and the recalled formula products.
On Thursday, consumer advocacy group foodwatch said it had lodged a criminal complaint in Paris on behalf of eight families whose babies reportedly became ill after consuming contaminated infant formula, alleging that companies delayed too long in warning the public, reports RTE.
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