Officials of the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service said they detected a bacterial strain called enterobacter sakazaki in a shipment of 135kg of canned organic formula produced by France's Vitagermine and imported last month.

E.sakazaki bacteria can cause meningitis and enteritis.

Since December 2007 eight shipments of the product weighing a total of 1,492 kilos have been imported and six of these, totalling 1,222 kilos, reached the market.

After last month's shipment failed tests, inspectors are examining the latest 135-kilo delivery that arrived on February 6, the quarantine service said.

It was also checking formula previously cleared for distribution.

'Most of the six shipments of 1,222 kilograms have been distributed but we've managed to secure two cans left undistributed,' an official told AFP.

He said these would be given more thorough tests and inspections of future shipments would be tightened. -- AFP