Georgia’s leading pharmaceutical companies stopped selling Celia milk powder for babies at drug stores. Baby formula is being pulled from shelves around the world after French authorities ordered a leading dairy company to stop selling hundreds of products because of concerns about food safety.

PSP and Aversi network of drug stores made the decision to withdraw the products after they had learnt that French firm Lactalis was recalling baby formula destined for markets due to discovery of salmonella in the products.

French firm Lactalis is recalling formula destined for markets in China, Greece, Pakistan and Peru after 26 infants fell ill with salmonella poisoning in France.

Lactalis was told earlier this month about an outbreak of salmonella poisoning among children who had consumed its products, but the steps it took weren’t enough to bring the risk of contamination under control, France’s top health and consumer agencies said.

The affected products are marketed under brands like Milumel, Celia and Picot. The French government published a list online of all the different formulas that it said can no longer be marketed or exported. It urged parents already in possession of them to stop using them. The suspected contamination took place at Lactalis’ factory in northwestern France. The company said the recall covers all products made there since mid-February.
Lactalis said in a statement Sunday that it was “sincerely sorry for the anxiety caused by the situation and expresses its compassion and support for the families whose children have fallen ill.”

French authorities said the children have recovered. Salmonella infections can be life-threatening, especially for young children, pregnant women and their fetuses, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems.