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Baby-milk scare widens

Cans of milk powder are displayed at a press conference held by Duan Chiang Co yesterday in which it explained its recall efforts. PHOTO: CHANG CHIA-MING, TAIPEI TIMES

The health scare surrounding baby milk powder widened yesterday as the Department of Health disclosed a new list of products that may have been contaminated by salmonella bacteria, despite official reassurance that all affected products had been recalled.

"Almost all of the baby-milk products imported from the French manufacturer Celia were withdrawn from shelves last week. As for our failure to issue a timely warning to consumers, we admit that there is room for improvement," said Chen Lu-hung (陳陸宏), director of the Department of Health's Food Safety Bureau.

The list of products suspected to have been contaminated by salmonella includes 48 different baby milk powder formulas.

Popular brands such as Peipin, Quaker, Anis, Neoangelac and Stronzon are on the list.

Food infected with salmonella may cause fever, abdominal pain, diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting in babies younger than two.

In a small number of cases the condition can become life-threatening, especially if the infection spreads from the gastrointestinal tract to other parts of the body such as the blood or bones.

While health authorities are still trying to track down all outlets selling infected products, officials called on parents to stop using the brands on the list for the time being.

The disclosure came after media reports that the Department of Health had attempted to conceal the possible infection of baby-milk products before it was exposed by the media.

Health authorities last month asked agents of Quaker to halt imports of baby-milk powder from the French company Celia after salmonella was found at one of its factories.
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