A large wave of infant milks contaminated by salmonella and produced by the Lactalis group was reported in early December (See the recall here). The scandal is now growing after it has been discovered that several mass distribution giants have, Despite the reminders, marketed these frelated products.
These are a total of less than six groups in large distribution (Leclerc, Crossroads, U system, Auchan, Casino, Cora) who admitted to having sold lactalis products which should have been withdrawn from the sale.
Quantities of frelated products sold by sign :
- Casino : 403 (Giant & Casino : 352 / Franprix : 51)
- Crossroads : 434
- Sysème U : 384 (Hyper U / Super U)
- Cora : 72
- Auchan : 52
- Lerclerc : 984 “782 customers were potentially [concerned]. All customers have been identified, more than half have already been contacted.” affirms the PDF of the group.
- Intermarché : an internal investigation is underway
Where does the failure come from? ?
The president of the’UFC only choose, Alain Bazot, entrusted to France info what’“we can see that the system in France is not developed” and that’“there are very few state controls. We know the poor resources of the competition-consumption department, which does what it can.”
The DGCCRF (Directorate-General for competition, Consumption and the Repression of fraud) meanwhile claimed on Wednesday to have carried out more than 2 000 checks to verify that the batches of Lactalis infant milk concerned had indeed been withdrawn from stores.
The political reaction to this scandal
The Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire convenes this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. these groups judged “defaulters” and announced that the repression of fraud would proceed “from next week” to 2 500 additional checks in establishments holding Lactalis milk. He further stated that “this matter is serious, it has given rise to unacceptable behavior which must be sanctioned”.
Emmanuel Macron confirmed that “whether sanctions should be taken, they will be taken”.
What penalties could retailers face? ?
Alain Bazot affirms that the big brands “incur a fifth-class fine [from 1 500 to 3 000 euros]. It's ridiculous. There must be external audits which guarantee that the decision taken is processed according to an effective procedure and that the consumer is reassured.”
A number of customers said they would file a complaint against groups. An association of families of victims affected by contaminated milk was also made up.
Shameful I hope there will be severe sanctions