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| France's baby milk scare: Police search Lactalis sites | France's baby milk scare: Police search Lactalis sites |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French police are searching several sites run by dairy group Lactalis as part of an ongoing investigation into a baby milk scare. | French police are searching several sites run by dairy group Lactalis as part of an ongoing investigation into a baby milk scare. |
| More than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk have already been recalled in 83 countries following a salmonella outbreak. | More than 12 million boxes of powdered baby milk have already been recalled in 83 countries following a salmonella outbreak. |
| Lawsuits have been filed by parents who say their children became unwell after drinking the formula. | Lawsuits have been filed by parents who say their children became unwell after drinking the formula. |
| Sites raided include a factory in Craon, north-western France. | Sites raided include a factory in Craon, north-western France. |
| The factory was closed last month after it was thought the contamination started in one of its drying towers. | The factory was closed last month after it was thought the contamination started in one of its drying towers. |
| Lactalis spokesperson Michel Nalet confirmed the police presence. "As we have said before, Lactalis is cooperating with justice authorities and will provide everything necessary for a smooth conduct of the investigation," he told AFP news agency. | Lactalis spokesperson Michel Nalet confirmed the police presence. "As we have said before, Lactalis is cooperating with justice authorities and will provide everything necessary for a smooth conduct of the investigation," he told AFP news agency. |
| At least 37 babies have been affected in France. | At least 37 babies have been affected in France. |
| The Lactalis group is one of the world's largest producers of dairy products, with annual sales of €17bn ($21bn; £15bn), It has 246 production sites in 47 countries and employs 15,000 people in France alone. | The Lactalis group is one of the world's largest producers of dairy products, with annual sales of €17bn ($21bn; £15bn), It has 246 production sites in 47 countries and employs 15,000 people in France alone. |
| What does the company say? | |
| Lactalis has said they believe the contamination was caused by renovation work at their Craon factory. | |
| In a recent interview in French newspaper Journal du Dimanche, chief executive Emmanuel Besnier denied the firm had attempted to hide the outbreak. | |
| He also promised the company would compensate any families affected. | |
| What are the dangers? | |
| Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and severe dehydration. It can be life-threatening, especially in young children. | |
| What products are affected? | |
| The Picot, Milumel and Taranis brands have been recalled. | |
| Last week a company spokesman told the BBC that all the countries affected had been informed, in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. The UK, US and Australia were not affected, he added. | |
| The government crackdown | |
| France's agriculture minister said products from the Craon factory will be banned indefinitely while the investigation is still ongoing. | |
| The French government has warned the company it must expect penalties over its handling of the affair. | |
| They also threatened to impose sanctions against retailers last week, after it emerged that several major supermarket chains had continued to sell products that could have been contaminated. |