Five babies hospitalized after consuming contaminated powdered milk
Europe reports that the affected batches were withdrawn from the market in January and that their origin is being investigated in all the states that sell them.
BarcelonaAt least eight babies in the state have suffered vomiting and intestinal problems after consuming infant formula under investigation for containing a toxin called cereulide. Five of those affected required hospitalization. The contaminated batches have already been recalled, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in its weekly public health alert bulletin, and an investigation is underway in all member states where the formula is sold.
Cereulide is a toxin produced by bacteriaBacillus cereuswhen it grows in foods that have not been properly stored. It is a type of toxin that is not destroyed by heat, so neither regular cooking nor reheating is enough to eliminate it once it has formed in the food. So far, Belgium is the only European country that has established a link between cases of gastrointestinal illness and contaminated products, but the investigation is still ongoing in other countries. None of the suspected cases in Spain have been confirmed by a laboratory.
Ingesting food contaminated with this toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal discomfort. Symptoms usually appear quickly, generally between 30 minutes and six hours after ingestion. However, in most cases, the illness is short-lived and has a favorable outcome, and only in certain circumstances can it become more serious. The most frequently contaminated foods are cooked foods that have subsequently cooled and been stored at room temperature for too long, such as dishes made with rice, pasta, cereals, potatoes, or similar preparations.
Lot from Ireland
The Public Health Agency of Catalonia issued an alert at the end of January reporting the possible presence of cereulide in Almiron brand infant formula products from Ireland. The company detected an issue during its internal monitoring and reported it to the relevant authorities, while the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition alerted the autonomous communities to the situation. The United Kingdom has reported 36 cases of gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming products from one of the affected batches, 11 babies have been hospitalized in France, Denmark has also detected cases of diarrhea in infants who had consumed the product, and Belgium has identified five cases.
