The searches have just started as part of the preliminary investigation into the Lactalis group. The head office, as well as four sites of the group, saw the arrival this Wednesday morning of gendarmes, investigators and magistrates. In the line of sight is the Craon plant, in Mayenne, from which the contaminated milk came out. salmonella. The premises of the companies Lactalis nutrition santé, Lactalis nutrition diététique (where the quality control services are located) as well as the premises of Lactalis International Europe, in the Marne Valley, are also searched.
Find the loophole
Investigators are trying to determine the origin of the contamination. As the avenues of breeding and milk delivery have been ruled out, research will focus on the hypothesis of a contamination human. To do this, employees will undergo several tests, including an analysis of their stool, to determine if one of them, carrying the bacteria, could be the source of the contamination. The searches – technical, computer and documentary – will aim to understand the manufacturing process and to determine where is the fault which allowed this contamination.
Salmonella had been detected twice, in August and November, on the tiles and cleaning equipment during internal checks. However, it was not until December that potentially contaminated batches were recalled. Some distributors continued to sell these products for several more weeks. Conclusion, 37 babies were affected by salmonellosis in France. The preliminary investigation is now open for “deception aggravated by the danger to human health” and “non-execution of a procedure for withdrawal or recall of a product” harmful to health, recalls Science and the Future.
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