South Korea Claims French Baby Formula Tainted with Meningitis Bacteria

South Korean regulators have reportedly detected a bacteria associated with infant meningitis and enteritis in a shipment of organic baby formula imported from France. The Korean National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service (NVRQS) identified Enterobacter sakazaki in formula originating with the Bordeaux-based manufacturer Vitagermine, which stated that its products passed EU standards
before shipment. The World Health Organization has categorized E. sakazaki as a harmful bacteria capable of causing serious illness and fatalities in people with weakened immune systems and infants. South Korea has apparently imported eight shipments of Vitagermine formula weighing a total of 1,492 kilos since 2007, according to NVRQS, which noted that six of these shipments reached the market.
Vitagermine has agreed to allow French authorities to conduct additional testing to ensure the safety of their product. See FoodProductionDaily.com, February 28, 2009.