A spokesperson for Lactalis, the French manufacturer of contaminated infant formula that made dozens of babies ill last December, told a parliamentary commission that the company detected the harmful salmonella bacteria in the contaminated Craon factory in August and November but "applied procedures" deemed appropriate for those cases.

These procedures involved cleaning the plant and conducting further investigations.

"None came back positive, so we resumed production," Michel Nalet said.

Health and consumer protection officials also brought before the commission described the month-long withdrawal process after ill babies were linked to infant formula made by Lactalis. Despite earlier salmonella detections, it took weeks for Lactalis, wholesalers, retailers and hospitals to take all potentially contaminated products off the shelves. It was later confirmed that the bacteria had been dormant in the factory since a previous outbreak in 2005.

They said 11,000t of infant formula representing dozens of millions of tins had to be recalled.

A criminal investigation is under way.

If your Craon plant closes down for a long period, hundreds of farmers will be affected

Chairing the commission, Senator Sophie Primas warned of the risk the scandal posed to the whole dairy industry.

“This risks weakening your sales, not only those of infant formula, and by consequence make the position of farmers even more fragile,” she told Nalet.

“If your Craon plant closes down for a long period, hundreds of farmers will be affected,” she added, expressing concern over the price paid by Lactalis to the rest of its suppliers.

Nalet replied that there had been no break in collection from 600 farmers supplying the plant, with other units at the site still collecting and 150m litres diverted to other factories.

“Our milk price will not be affected by potential losses,” he added, arguing that global markets dictate prices.

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