The Children's Health Association, which had defended families who were victims of milk contaminated with salmonella, called on Thursday for the opening of a judicial investigation following revelations about "fraudulent methods" by the dairy group Lactalis.
The association "expressly requests the opening of an investigation so that the fraudulent acts mentioned by the journalists can be verified and be the subject of appropriate prosecution and sanctions," according to a statement.
It refers to "particularly serious" facts of "wetting of milk" or "recycling of cheeses fallen to the ground", reported by the investigative media Disclose.
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“In view of what is mentioned in the articles, there is reason for the prosecution to seize,” explains Quentin Guillemain, president of the association, also citing the infringements of environmental law alleged against the dairy group.
"This company enjoys a certain impunity, it will have to stop," he adds.
38 factories in violation of the Environmental Code
According to Disclose, “between 2010 and today […] 38 Lactalis factories were or still are in violation of the environmental code” in France, “ie more than half of the 60 establishments listed and analyzed within the framework of this investigation ".
Disclose was based on documents from the Regional Directorates for the Environment (DREAL) and the Departmental Directorates for Social Cohesion and Population Protection (DDCSPP).
The documents obtained by Disclose would attest, according to an expert interviewed by the online media, that Lactalis practices "wetting milk", a practice consisting "of standardizing the level of proteins in milk by adding
permeate
, a low liquid. protein content, making it possible to increase volumes at a lower production cost ”.
Contacted by AFP on Thursday, Lactalis said that the document presented by Disclose as relating to milk actually concerns cheese, whose manufacturing process is not the same.
"Lactalis scrupulously complies with European regulations on milk and cheese making", assures the group.
In April 2000, Lactalis denied similar information published in Le Canard Enchaîné.
