A salmonella baby milk scandal at French dairy group Lactalis has affected 83 countries. More than 12 million boxes of the dairy group 's powdered baby milk have now been recalled. <br/><br/>The dairy firm's CEO, Emmanuel Besnier, confirmed to French media the extent of the contamination risk. Besnier, who was summoned to the French finance ministry on Friday, has promised compensation for all the families affected. <br/><br/>So far French officials have reported 35 cases of infants getting salmonella from the powder, while one case has been reported in Spain and another is being investigated in Greece. A spokesman told the BBC that all the countries affected in Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa had been informed. Britain, US and Australia were not affected. <br/><br/>A group of bacteria named Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the United States. Salmonella can cause serious illness in older adults, infants and persons with chronic diseases. <br/><br/>Lactalis, one of the world's largest producers of dairy products had issued a recall of all products made at its factory in Craon, northwest France, after discovering salmonella bacteria at the site in December. But France said on Thursday that there has been a major dysfunction in the recall of baby milk after stores sold potentially contaminated products despite having been ordered to take them off their shelves. <br/><br/>French President Emmanuel Macron added his voice to calls for those responsible to be punished. Lawsuits have also been filed by parents who say their children became unwell after drinking the formula.