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| Lactalis baby milk scare in France: Salmonella taint 'began in 2005' | Lactalis baby milk scare in France: Salmonella taint 'began in 2005' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The French dairy group at the centre of a baby milk scandal, Lactalis, has admitted some of its products may have been tainted over more than a decade. | The French dairy group at the centre of a baby milk scandal, Lactalis, has admitted some of its products may have been tainted over more than a decade. |
| Millions of boxes of powdered milk have been recalled worldwide following a salmonella outbreak last year. | Millions of boxes of powdered milk have been recalled worldwide following a salmonella outbreak last year. |
| Researchers say that the exact same strain of salmonella was responsible for another outbreak in 2005. | Researchers say that the exact same strain of salmonella was responsible for another outbreak in 2005. |
| The company said it was possible other babies could have been affected by Lactalis products since then. | The company said it was possible other babies could have been affected by Lactalis products since then. |
| In a newspaper interview published on Thursday, Lactalis CEO Emmanuel Besnier said tests had shown that a factory at the centre of the latest scare, in Craon in north-western France, was also responsible for the 2005 outbreak. | In a newspaper interview published on Thursday, Lactalis CEO Emmanuel Besnier said tests had shown that a factory at the centre of the latest scare, in Craon in north-western France, was also responsible for the 2005 outbreak. |
| Baby milk scandal explained in 100 and 500 words | Baby milk scandal explained in 100 and 500 words |
| The factory - owned by Lactalis since 2006 - was closed in December after it emerged that contamination had started in one of its drying towers. | The factory - owned by Lactalis since 2006 - was closed in December after it emerged that contamination had started in one of its drying towers. |
| How many babies have been affected since 2005? | How many babies have been affected since 2005? |
| In the 2005 outbreak, 146 children fell ill. In last year's outbreak, at least 38 cases in France and Spain were traced to Lactalis milk. | In the 2005 outbreak, 146 children fell ill. In last year's outbreak, at least 38 cases in France and Spain were traced to Lactalis milk. |
| On Thursday, researchers from the Pasteur Institute in Paris said the salmonella bacteria had remained at the Craon factory until it was closed. | On Thursday, researchers from the Pasteur Institute in Paris said the salmonella bacteria had remained at the Craon factory until it was closed. |
| As a result, they said, a total of 25 babies had been affected between 2005 and 2016. | As a result, they said, a total of 25 babies had been affected between 2005 and 2016. |
| Mr Besnier appeared to point to a similar conclusion in his interview with Les Échos newspaper. | Mr Besnier appeared to point to a similar conclusion in his interview with Les Échos newspaper. |
| "The possibility that babies consumed tainted milk over this period cannot be ruled out," he said. | "The possibility that babies consumed tainted milk over this period cannot be ruled out," he said. |
| What are the consequences for Lactalis? | What are the consequences for Lactalis? |
| The crisis, Mr Besnier said, would "cost Lactalis hundreds of millions" of euros. | The crisis, Mr Besnier said, would "cost Lactalis hundreds of millions" of euros. |
| Lawsuits have been filed by parents who say their children became sick after drinking Lactalis products. | Lawsuits have been filed by parents who say their children became sick after drinking Lactalis products. |
| Moreover, the company has recalled nearly a whole year's output from the Craon factory - about 12 million boxes of powdered milk - which had been distributed to 83 countries. | |
| A company spokesman told the BBC last month that those countries were in continental Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. The UK, US and Australia were not affected. | |
| Lactalis has annual sales of €17bn ($21bn; £15bn), production sites in 47 countries and employs 15,000 people in France alone. | Lactalis has annual sales of €17bn ($21bn; £15bn), production sites in 47 countries and employs 15,000 people in France alone. |
| What are the dangers? | What are the dangers? |
| Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and severe dehydration. It can be life-threatening, especially in young children. | Salmonella can cause diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and severe dehydration. It can be life-threatening, especially in young children. |
| The illness, caused by intestinal bacteria from farm animals, is dangerous for the very young and the elderly. | The illness, caused by intestinal bacteria from farm animals, is dangerous for the very young and the elderly. |
| None of the affected children have died in this outbreak. | None of the affected children have died in this outbreak. |
| The government crackdown | The government crackdown |
| Products from Craon have been banned while French authorities are carrying out investigations. Lactalis says it is fully co-operating. | Products from Craon have been banned while French authorities are carrying out investigations. Lactalis says it is fully co-operating. |
| The government has warned the company it must expect penalties over its handling of the affair. | The government has warned the company it must expect penalties over its handling of the affair. |
| It also threatened to impose sanctions against retailers last month, after it emerged that several major supermarket chains had continued to sell products that could have been contaminated. | It also threatened to impose sanctions against retailers last month, after it emerged that several major supermarket chains had continued to sell products that could have been contaminated. |