Salmonella scandal forces French dairy company to recall 12 million boxes of baby milk from 83 countries

Lactalis will 'pay damages to every family' affected, chief executive Emmanuel Besnier says

A member of French General Directorate of Competition, Policy Consumer Affairs, and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) checks baby milk products in a pharmacy in Orleans. More than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk distributed by diary company Lactalis have now been recalled in a salmonella scandal. (AFP PHOTO / Krum STOEVKRUM STOEV/AFP/Getty Images)

A French dairy company has recalled baby milk products from 83 countries across Europe Africa and Asia after salmonella was discovered at the firm's factory.

Lactalis said more than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk were being withdrawn from the market.

The firm's chief executive Emmanuel Besnier told weekly newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche that his family company, one of the world’s biggest dairies, would “pay damages to every family which has suffered a prejudice”.

All recalled boxes have originated from Lactalis' factory in Craon, northwest France, where the salmonella bacteria was discovered in December. The plant is expected to remain closed for several months.

The move comes after an initial bungled recall operation and the paper reported that 35 babies have been diagnosed with salmonella in France, one in Spain and a possible case in Greece.

Salmonella infections can be life-threatening and the families of three dozen children who have fallen sick in France as a result of the contaminated baby milk have announced a raft of lawsuits.

A spokesman for the company said all countries affected had been informed which did not include the UK, the US and Australia.

A judicial investigation to determine who was responsible would continue, they added.

Mr Besnier did not say how much the damages might amount to.

The company's announcement came two days after Lactalis widened a product recall to cover all infant formula made at its Craon plan, regardless of the manufacture date, in an bid to contain the fallout from a health scare that risks damaging France's strategic agribusiness in overseas markets.

"Paying compensation is good, but money cannot buy everything," government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said in an interview on BFM TV.

The health scare intensified last week after France's biggest retailers including Carrefour, Auchan and Leclerc admitted products recalled in December had still found their way onto shelves.

"It is the job of the investigation to determine where failings occurred and who is to blame," Mr Griveaux said, adding that "responsibilities were shared".

Mr Besnier said the recall will be challenging since the company does not know how many baby milk boxes have been consumed already.

He denied allegations the company had been slowing the process to curb losses but said the group had acted as quickly and efficiently as possible. Mr Besnier had previously been criticised for failing to speak out publicly during the salmonella scare.

His family is the 11th wealthiest in France according to a 2017 ranking by Challenges magazine but the dairy tycoon has long shunned the public limelight and is known for his close relationships with politicians.

Additional reporting by agencies.