Baby milk taken off shop shelves

The UAE will remove infant formula made by Lactalis from shops after the French company recalled products when cases of salmonella were reported.

The Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority and municipalities of the other six emirates are responsible for ensuring the products are taken off retailers’ shelves.

The French health ministry said that the milk had been exported to 30 countries, including the UAE.

Lactalis, one of the world’s largest dairy producers, issued the recall on December 2 for products made since mid-February.

“Since December 1, the health authorities have brought to our attention a Salmonella agona contamination, which has caused 26 infants to become sick,” Lactalis said.

“The consumption of these products must therefore be stopped.”

Lactalis believes the outbreak can be traced to a drying tower during the first week in May.

A company spokesman, Michel Nalet, told AFP that nearly 7,000 tonnes of product could have been contaminated. The products being recalled from shops include Milumel Bio, Milumel Relais and Milumel Premigest.

The company said that consumers who have bought these products should return them to the shop and ask for a refund.

The dairy company has offices and subsidiaries throughout the Middle East including its main branch in Dubai, which covers the GCC and Levant.

The company repeated its “deep regret to all parents whose children could have become ill as a result of the consumption of certain infant milk from its unit, and its wishes for speedy recovery to young children.”