PARIS - French health authorities on Saturday ordered the recall of infant formula products that were possibly contaminated by salmonella, while 20 babies aged under six months have been infected by salmonella in eight different regions of France.

The Public Health Agency of France and the General Direction for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) in an urgent press release have asked parents not to use 12 batches of Lait Picot SL lactose free (first age 350g), Pepti Junior lactose free (first age 460g), and Milumel Bio without palm oil (first age 900g). The details of the batches concerned are available on the health ministry's website.

Parents should contact their pediatrician or doctor for advice on a replacement milk product, especially for babies who are allergic to milk proteins. In the meantime, they can go to the pharmacy where a replacement infant formula will be suggested to them, according to French health authorities.

Salmonella infections occur within 3 days of ingestion, and cause gastroenteritis with vomiting, diarrhea sometimes bloody, and febrile in most cases, the health authorities said. Parents are urged to take their infants to seek medical attention in case of appearance of these signs.