The Dutch food safety authority NVWA and food company Nestlé said on Friday they have not received any signals that the toxin found in baby milk in the Netherlands has led to large numbers of babies becoming ill.

They were responding to reports that French officials have launched an investigation into the deaths of two babies who may have consumed contaminated milk. “It is important not to worry people unnecessarily,” a spokeswoman for Nestlé Nederland told the AD.

The milk consumed by the two French babies may have partly originated in the Netherlands, although this remains unclear. The toxin is known to cause vomiting and diarrhoea in babies.

The Nestlé Nederland spokeswoman said she would not speculate on the French investigation. “As far as we know, there is no link between the illness suffered by one baby and our baby formula,” she said. “We have had four questions from parents whose children had diarrhoea or had to throw up.”

Earlier this month, research showed the toxin originated from a raw material used in various products, after which Nestlé decided to remove two products from the shelves.

“It was first found in our factory because of our strict controls,” she said. Baby formula producers Danone and Lactalis also use the ingredient and together the three firms have withdrawn various products from sale in 78 countries, including the Netherlands.

The NVWA told the AD it has received one report about a child who became ill after being given the milk and recovered once it was stopped.

“We understand the concerns and are keeping a close eye on developments,” spokeswoman Marloes van Kessel said. “But we have not received any signals from local health boards or the public health institute RIVM about large numbers of babies with these complaints.”

The NVWA said it was warned by Nestlé Nederland on December 9 that the toxin, cereulide, had been found on the production line at a Dutch factory. “It was a product intended for export only, so we issued a warning to other countries via the European system.”

According to the French justice ministry, the original supplier is a Chinese company.