HUNMANA MILK UNION MANAGER ROLF JANSHEN REACTS DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE IN HERFORD, 2003-11-10 (photo)

Rolf Janshen, manager of the German company Humana Milk Union, reacts during a news conference at the factory in Herford November 10, 2003. Israel's Health Ministry on Monday linked the deaths of two babies to the German-made, soy-based infant formula pulled off Israeli store shelves and found to lack an essential vitamin. The ministry said the kosher product - made by the German firm Humana GmbH and sold locally by Israel's Remedia Ltd - caused a B-1 vitamin deficiency that led to acute beriberi. Beriberi is a deficiency disease marked by inflammatory or degenerative changes of the nerves, digestive system, and heart and can be caused by a lack of B-1, also known as thiamin. Israel's state attorney was looking into whether to take legal action against the companies for selling what it said was a "defective product", the ministry said. It said at least seven other babies fed the formula had developed beriberi. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay WR/JOH/KM