Feb 17 - Food safety officials in South Korea say they have found harmful bacteria in a French baby formula product and said further shipments will come under intense scrutiny.
The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service announced it had discovered the presence of the bacterial strain enterobacter sakazaki in a 135 kg-consignment of canned organic baby milk produced by French company Vitagermine, which was imported in January.
The bacteria can cause meningitis and enteritis.
The South Korean authorities said that some eight shipments of product weighing just less than 1,500 kg have been shipped into the country. Six of these shipments weighing a total of 1,222 kg have reached the market.
Following the discovery of last month’s contaminated shipment, quarantine officials in South Korea said they were carefully checking the latest 135 kg cargo delivered on February 6. Previously cleared product was also being thoroughly re-examined, the service said.
An official said: “Most of the six shipments of 1,222 kilograms have been distributed but we've managed to secure two cans left undistributed.”