French prosecutors open probe into two infant deaths after recalled formula

Two infants who consumed batches of powdered infant formula subject to a precautionary recall earlier in January have died, prompting French prosecutors and health authorities to open a joint investigation into whether the products played a role in the fatalities. One of the children died in Pessac in southwestern France, and authorities said there is not yet evidence of a causal link between the recalled formula and the deaths.

Prosecutors said the inquiry will examine clinical records, product traceability and laboratory results as investigators seek to establish whether contamination or another factor contributed to the infants' deaths. Health agencies have collected samples from the recalled batches and from households where the infants were fed the formula, and laboratory analyses are under way. Autopsies and toxicology tests are also being carried out to determine precise causes of death and to rule out other medical conditions.

The recall, described by officials as a precautionary measure, affected powdered formula produced in January and notified to consumers earlier this month. Authorities have not named manufacturers or specific batch numbers while initial testing continues. Officials said parents who purchased the recalled formula should stop using the product and consult a pediatrician if their child shows signs of illness.

Powdered infant formula is not a sterile product and, in rare cases, has been associated with serious infections from pathogens such as Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella. Investigators will assess both microbiological contamination and potential chemical hazards, as well as compliance with manufacturing protocols, hygiene practices and cold-chain management during distribution. Establishing a causal link between a product and an adverse health outcome requires convergence of clinical, microbiological and supply-chain evidence, a process that can take several weeks.

The deaths have reignited public concern in France over food safety oversight and the vulnerability of infants to contaminants. Parent groups voiced alarm on social media and called for greater transparency from manufacturers and regulators. Health officials said they will publish findings as soon as investigations provide definitive results and urged parents to rely on official guidance rather than unverified reports.

Beyond immediate public health steps, the probe is likely to prompt scrutiny of regulatory procedures for infant nutrition products, including sampling frequency, batch testing standards and recall communication. Consumer confidence in formula brands and the wider infant nutrition sector may be affected while investigations continue, raising the possibility of supply disruptions if recalls expand.

Legal authorities will determine whether the deaths warrant criminal charges, which would depend on evidence that negligence or regulatory breaches directly caused the fatalities. For now, investigators are focused on scientific and medical analysis to establish cause of death and any connection to the recalled formula. Health agencies and prosecutors said they will provide updates at key junctures as laboratory and forensic results become available.