By Joshua Kirby


Danone said Friday it is recalling selected batches of its infant formula in line with guidance from Irish food-safety authorities.

The recall follows a move by authorities in Singapore earlier this week to halt sales of a baby-formula brand Danone manufactures in the city-state, citing potential bacterial contamination. Shares in the French consumer-foods group dropped sharply in reaction.

The decision to recall relates to batches of formula manufactured in Ireland and exported to a number of European Union countries, as well as the U.K. and some third countries, according to the Irish Food Safety Authority. The recall is associated with a certain toxin, the authority said in a statement.

"An ingredient, ARA oil, which was manufactured in China, was contaminated with cereulide and added as an ingredient in base powder used to make infant formula and follow-on formula," it said.

Danone said routine controls and targeted analyses showed its products are safe and "fully compliant will all applicable safety regulations."

However, some local food-safety authorities are evolving their guidance, Danone said.

"In that context, as a responsible manufacturer and to comply with the latest guidance, Danone will withdraw from targeted markets a very limited number of specific batches of infant formula products," the company said.

Concerns over Danone's baby formula follow a large-scale recall by Swiss rival Nestle of its own formula, on fears of bacterial contamination.


Write to Joshua Kirby at joshua.kirby@wsj.com; @joshualeokirby


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

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