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Baby-milk maker Lactalis and health authorities have ordered a massive international product recall due to salmonella fears after 26 cases of children falling sick in France.

"Nearly 7,000 tonnes" of milk may have been contaminated, a company spokesman told AFP, with supplies travelling worldwide.

The company said that it has traced the salmonella outbreak to an evaporation tower used to dry out the milk, at a factory in Craon, Mayenne.

All products made at the site since February 15 have been recalled, and the company said that it was disinfecting all machinery at the factory.

Lactalis has published a

First reports of a potential problem came at the beginning of the month, when it was reported that 20 children under the age of six had fallen ill after consuming Lactalis milk products.

But the recall was extended on Sunday after the economy ministry said initial measures were "not sufficient to manage the risk of contamination".

Salmonella symptoms include severe diarrhoea, stomach ache and vomiting.