Lactalis recalls additional infant, nutritional formula products from UAE

Dubai - No case has been reported in the UAE

By Staff Report

Published: Fri 22 Dec 2017, 2:22 PM

Last updated: Sat 23 Dec 2017, 10:08 PM

After the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) recently issued a decision to withdraw the (Lactalis Craon Factory) French-made Infant Milk products from UAE markets due to Salmonella contamination - the company has issued a statement regarding recalling certain batches.
In a statement issued on Friday, the company said that as a precautionary measure, Lactalis Group had decided, in agreement with French authorities, a further product recall, which includes all infant and nutritional products manufactured and packed in Craon factory since February 15, 2017.
All other products manufactured in our other factories are safe and are out of the scope of recall.
The company apologised to concerned families - and also assured that no case had been reported in UAE.

'We are well aware of the seriousness of the situation and fully understand the anxiety and inconvenience that have been caused. No case has been reported in the Emirates. Food safety for all our consumers and all our products is our highest priority, which is why we are taking such rapid and drastic measures in order to deal with this situation.'

Following the alert transmitted by French authorities on December 1 , 2017 concerning a risk of salmonella contamination of infant formula, Lactalis Group proceeded on December 2, 2017 to a first withdrawal/ recall of products.
Further investigations led to a second withdrawal/recall of all products manufactured since February 15, 2017 from one of the drying towers of the plant, according to the statement.

Batches recalled in UAE

Three additional batches will be withdrawn/recalled from the Emirati market.
Consumption of the products listed in the appendices must be stopped and replaced by alternative products.

The company decided to stop Craon factory for a drastic and complete audit on December 8, 2017 despite the conformity of all their analyzes carried out on finished products in between January 1, 2017 and December 1, 2017.
Since the beginning of this crisis, a reinforced analysis program had been implemented with independent external laboratories.
The company discovered that dispersed contamination had settled in their Craon factory following work carried out during the first half of 2017.
In the face of this fact, further precautionary measures had proved to be necessary.
Lactalis added that it was committed to sharing the findings of an audit over the coming weeks.