France tightens infant formula rules after toxin scare

France plans to impose stricter limits on the acceptable level of a toxin called cereulide in infant formula after potentially contaminated products were recalled in over 60 countries.

The infant formula industry has been rocked in recent weeks by several firms recalling batches that could be contaminated with cereulide, which can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.

“Protecting the health of infants is the top priority for health authorities,” the French agriculture ministry said late Friday.

The new threshold will be 0.014 micrograms of cereulide per kilogram of body weight, compared to 0.03 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, it said.

“France has chosen to anticipate new scientific recommendations,” the ministry added.

The recall of potentially contaminated infant formula has heaped scrutiny on Chinese firm Cabio Biotech, the supplier of an ingredient used in infant formula and suspected of being tainted.

The European Commission has asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to establish a standard for cereulide in children’s products.

It will issue an opinion on February 2.

Several manufacturers, including giants like Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis have issued recalls of infant formula in France and dozens of countries since December.

Nestle argued that in the absence of “European regulations on the presence of cereulide in food”, it had followed standard procedures.

“Testing for bacteria of the Bacillus cereus family is routinely offered,” Francois Vigneau of lab testing firm Eurofins said last week. He added however that tests for cereulide were “not part of standard checks.”

“In the current context of milk recalls, this test is currently being requested because all stakeholders in dairy products in general, and infant formula in particular, are concerned about the situation,” added Vigneau.

French authorities launched an investigation into the deaths in December and January of two babies who were thought to have drunk possibly contaminated powdered milk.

At this stage investigators have not established a direct link between the symptoms and the milk consumed.