Snow Brand Milk Products Co. says babies who drink one of its powdered milk products could test positive for tuberculosis even though they are not infected with TB.
Two cases of babies testing positive for the disease have been reported so far and one of the infants has been temporarily isolated, the company said. Both babies tested negative for TB after DNA tests, it said.
The leading dairy product maker said a positive result could occur when a dead, harmless acid-fast bacteria in the product reacts to the conventional TB testing method. The virus might have contaminated the NeoMilk Sukoyaka product in the manufacturing process at a Hokkaido plant, which makes a protein substance used for the product. The company said it will alter the manufacturing line to prevent any future contamination.