'Bacteria in Baby Milk': Case filed against importer

Bangladesh Food Safety Authority (BFSA) has filed a case against JES International, the importer of powdered baby milk suspected of having bacterial contamination, for negligence in withdrawing the product from the market.

Safe Food Inspector Kamrul Hasan filed the case with the Safe Food Court of Dhaka North City Corporation on Monday evening after the BFSA found at least two cartons of the suspected baby milk, said BFSA Director SM Amirul Islam.

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“One box was found at Karwan Bazar Kitchen Market on January 10 and the other in Mirpur on January 11,” he told The Daily Star last night over the phone.

The accused also include Borhan Uddin, a distributor, and Jahangir Hossain, a dealer of the baby milk – “Babycare 1” and “Babycare 2” -- produced by French company Lactalis.

As there were suspicion of Salmonella contamination in some batches of the powdered baby milk, and Lactalis ordered withdrawal of the products from 83 countries, including Bangladesh, BFSA on December 27 had asked JES International to withdraw all the suspected batches of the milk swiftly.

The suspected baby milk products were “Babycare-1” and “Babycare-2” [batch numbers 17C0012388, 17C0012668, 17C0012380, 17C0012435, 17C0012991, 17C0012669, 17C0012993 and 17C0013570].

On January 15, Zawadul Haque, one of the partners of JES International, had told this correspondent that they marketed 8,000 cartons of the baby milk in question in July last year. Of those, they withdrew 1,000 cartons from the market between December 27 and January 15, and the rest 7,000 cartons had been consumed.

BFSA Director Amirul Islam, however, said it was negligence on part of JES International in complying with the authority's instruction though it was withdrawing the products from the market.

Finding two boxes of the baby milk in question in the city is the proof of it, he added.

“We think Salmonella contamination in baby milk is a serious health concern. No one should be negligent in this regard,” he said.

Salmonella can cause severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and dehydration. It can also be life-threatening.

So far, 35 cases have been reported in France and another one has been confirmed in Spain. Another possible case is being investigated in Greece, French authorities said on Friday.

In Bangladesh, violator of the Safe Food Act 2013 has to pay a minimum of Tk 2 lakh or suffer one year in jail or both. The maximum punishment is a fine of Tk 20 lakh or five years in jail or both.