Salmonella agona has affected the children who are under six months of age and come from eight different regions in the country.
Santé Publique France and la Direction générale de la concurrence, de la consommation et de la répression des fraudes (DGCCRF) are leading the investigation.
They said 13 children whose families have been questioned to date have all consumed infant formula milk from products made between mid-July and end of November on the same production site LNS (Lactalis) at Craon, en Mayenne.
The 14 children whose parents have been contacted are doing well and investigations are continuing with the other families.
Product was also distributed to Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Congo (Brazzaville), Côte d'Ivoire, Gabon, Madagascar, Mali and Togo, according to the RASFF portal.
Product recall
Lactalis has recalled the 12 concerned lots of Lait Picot SL sans lactose, 1er âge 350g, Lait Pepti Junior sans lactose, 1er âge 460g and Lait Milumel, Bio 1er âge 900g, sans huile de palme.
LNS said it was trying to find possible cause of contamination and will provide more information after results of such analysis.
All analyzes on the batches before they were put on the market revealed no Salmonella, it added.
LNS said since the start of the year more than 2,600 analyzes - all compliant - have been performed by an independent and accredited laboratory.
Lait Picot SL sans lactose, 1er âge 350g lots 17C0012344 - DLUO 15/2/2019; 17C0012877 - DLUO 1/6/2019; 17C0013216 - DLUO 18/9/2019 and 17C0013549 - DLUO 29/9/2019 are affected.
Lait Pepti Junior sans lactose, 1er âge 460g has lot numbers 17C0012512 - DLUO 14/9/2018; 17C0012856 - DLUO 1/12/2018 and 17C0013179 - DLUO 1/2/2019.
Lait Milumel, Bio 1er âge 900g has lot number 17C0012592 and date 3/4/2018; lot 17C0012845 and date 22/5/2018; lot 17C0012848 and date 26/8/2018; lot 17C0012960 and date 12/9/2018 and lot 17C0013084 and date 13/10/2018.
Authorities have asked parents who still have boxes of the above lots not to use them. Other lot numbers of these brands are safe for consumption.
Salmonella Agona infections occur within three days following ingestion and cause gastroenteritis with vomiting, sometimes bloody diarrhea and fever in some cases.