Over the past few days, there has been international concern regarding several brands of infant formula produced by Nestlé and Danone. A possible contamination was suspected, and after a cautious approach, the news finally arrived from the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The British authority confirmed the presence of a toxin called cereulide, a substance produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which can cause gastrointestinal disorders. At this point, the recall of the affected products seemed inevitable, with the agency itself suggesting finding alternatives for food safety reasons.
What's Happening and Where is The Contamination Coming From?
It all started in the first few days of the year, when the UK's FSA issued a warning about the recall of some Nestlé infant formulas because they contained cereulide. In a statement reported by The Guardian, Jodie Wild, head of the FSA's incidents unit, explained that the agency is urgently tracing all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier. "We need to ensure that all affected batches are removed from the market as a matter of urgency," Wild explained. "The recalls are due to the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and nausea, and if further recalls are necessary, we will announce them immediately."
Through further investigation, scientists discovered the source of the contamination: arachidonic acid oil (ARA), an additive used to enrich infant formula because it promotes neurological development in infants. This ingredient is supplied by a third-party manufacturer based in Wuhan, China. The city is also known for being the site of the outbreak of COVID-19. Nestlé is not the only one using this type of oil, but also other manufacturers such as Danone, leading to multiple recalls of various brands in many countries.
In the UK, the Nestlé products recalled include several products from the SMA line: SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk, SMA Anti Reflux, SMA Alfamino, SMA First Infant Milk, SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk, SMA Comfort, and SMA Lactose Free. On the Danone front, however, the alert concerns only one Aptamil product: the 800-gram pack of First Infant Formula.
Lactalis also announced a few days ago the voluntary recall of six batches of its Picot Lactalis Nutrition Santé (LNS) infant formula brand, available in pharmacies and supermarkets and distributed in 18 countries. As explained in the multinational's official press release, the recall occurred "due to the presence of cereulide in an ingredient sourced from a supplier." The affected batches have been on sale since January 2025, with expiration dates until March 2027.
The Deaths of Two Newborns in France Have Attracted Suspicion
The issue has taken a dramatic turn in France, where health authorities have launched an investigation into two infants who died after consuming formula from the recalled batches. The cases involve a baby born at Christmas who died on January 8th and a 27-day-old girl who died on December 23rd. However, a clear causal link between the contamination and the deaths has not yet been proven, and the investigation is ongoing.
According to the FSA's warnings, the cereulide contamination affected products sold in dozens of European countries, and according to some media reports, the recall may have been global, reaching Africa, America, and Asia, in addition to Europe. The British agency urged parents who purchased the affected products to stop using them immediately and consult a doctor if their child has already ingested the milk.
Regarding the matter, Nestlé has published some official updates on its website. It states that the company has identified and tested the arachidonic acid oil used in the production of the suspect formulas and has activated alternative suppliers. However, they have confirmed that they have not found any cases of illness related to the recalled batches. The company also stated that it has completed the necessary tests and increased its production capacity to mitigate any supply disruptions.
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