Nestlé and Danone are facing investigations by Austrian prosecutors over the infant-formula recall tied to cereulide contamination.
The Vienna Public Prosecutor has opened a probe into Nestlé, while the Innsbruck Public Prosecutor is investigating Danone, according to the Foodwatch advocacy group.
In a statement sent to Just Food, a Nestlé spokesperson said the company is treating the issue “very seriously”.
“Ensuring the safety and quality of our products is our highest priority. We continue to cooperate fully with the competent authorities. Based on the information available to date, no causal link has been established between the infant formula and the reported symptoms.”
The spokesperson added: “As investigations and legal proceedings are ongoing, we do not comment further on the details of the case.”
Danone had not replied to Just Food's request for comment at the time of writing and neither had the two prosecutors offices.
The Austrian probe follows a criminal complaint filed by Foodwatch against the Swiss food giant Nestlé and France’s Danone in March.
In Dornbirn, a family has brought a lawsuit against Nestlé after their toddler allegedly developed symptoms of vomiting, breathing problems and weight loss late last year in connection with the recalled formula.
According to Foodwatch, many parents have reported the same symptoms in recent months after using potentially contaminated milk powder.
The civil case seeks damages from the manufacturer under the Product Liability Act, including compensation for pain and suffering and care costs, Foodwatch said.
Nestlé and Danone have been central to a broader recall of baby powders contaminated with cereulide, a toxin associated with Bacillus cereus that can trigger vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea.
Cross-border reporting by Radio France, RTS and RTBF has raised further questions over how the recall was handled.
Those investigations said Nestlé was slow to alert European authorities about the affected products.
They also reported that products were withdrawn quietly in Austria and Germany.
The European Commission has said a "silent recall" is not provided for under EU legislation.
The formula recall went global in January when Danone, Lactalis and some smaller producers joined the product withdrawals. That month, French prosecutors launched investigations into the deaths of two children reported to have consumed formula recalled by Nestlé.
However, in March, prosecutors in Bordeaux said that the death of one baby was not connected to recalled infant formula made by Nestlé.
In February, more than 20 families in France sued the government over alleged failures in the recall investigation.
The same month, the EU tightened checks on arachidonic acid oil imports from China, the ingredient source connected to the cereulide contamination scare.
