The European Union has significantly strengthened import controls on a Chinese-sourced ingredient after it was identified as the cause of a contaminated infant formula crisis that killed three babies in Europe.
According to AFP on Sunday, the EU has tightened quarantine procedures after confirming that arachidonic acid (ARA) oil used in infant formula was contaminated with cereulide toxin. Cereulide is a food poisoning toxin that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
The crisis was first identified in December last year. Major European food companies including Nestlé, Danone, and Lactalis, which produced formula containing the contaminated ingredient, recalled products from approximately 60 countries worldwide, including EU member states. Three infant deaths in France have been confirmed to date, linked to consumption of the recalled formula.
The problematic ARA oil is an additive used in formula manufacturing. Arachidonic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid naturally present in breast milk, and is processed into oil form to make formula more similar to breast milk. The European Commission stated that Chinese-sourced ARA oil was confirmed as the contamination source. While no specific company name was officially announced, industry sources indicate that Chinese firm Cabio Biotech has been identified as the supplier and is under investigation.
The EU will now require official certification proving no cereulide toxin detection for all ARA oil imports from China before clearing customs. Considering shipments already en route to Europe, physical inspections will be conducted on half of all arriving shipments over the next two months. However, two EU agencies assessed that current exposure risk to cereulide toxin within Europe remains low.
Earlier this month, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated regarding this matter: "The Chinese government takes food safety very seriously and will continue to take strong measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers."