Infant Death in Gironde Not Linked to Milk Recall, Investigation Continues

PARIS, March 6 (Reuters) – The death of an infant on January 8 in Gironde, France, is not linked to artificial milks recalled due to potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and discomfort in babies, the Bordeaux prosecutor’s office announced Friday.

A specialized Belgian laboratory, tasked with analyzing samples of powder and reconstituted milk the baby consumed between January 5 and 7, found no presence of cereulide. These analyses utilized more sensitive detection thresholds than those employed by the French National Health Security Agency (ANSES).

The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office stated in a press release, “In the current state of the investigations, the death of the infant therefore does not appear to be linked to the artificial milk which was used to feed him. The investigation is continuing, particularly on a medicolegal level, in order to determine the origin of his death.”

Several other investigations are underway in France, overseen by the Paris public prosecutor’s office, and the public prosecutor’s offices of Blois (Loir-et-Cher) and Angers (Maine-et-Loire), following reports of deceased or seriously ill infants.

(Sophie Louet with Sybille de la Hamaide)