Nestle – a Swiss multinational corporation and world’s largest food and beverage manufacturing company – has issued a global recall of certain baby formula products after discovering they may contain a toxin that can cause food poisoning.
The recall affects specific batches of Simulated Milk Adapted (SMA) infant formula and follow-on formula sold worldwide.
The company said the products may contain cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.
“The safety and well-being of babies is our absolute priority,” Nestlé said. “We sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, caregivers, and customers.”
Nestle confirmed there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the products, but is recalling them “out of an abundance of caution.”
The affected batches were sold in multiple countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden.
Nestle stressed that other products and batches not included in the recall remain safe to consume.
In France, the recall covers Guigoz and Nidal formulas, while in Germany, the products are sold as Beba and Alfamino.
Customers in the UK can find affected batch numbers on Nestle’s UK website or through food.gov.uk.
The company has promised refunds for affected customers and said the problem originated from an ingredient supplied by one of its partners.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that cereulide is unlikely to be deactivated by cooking or boiling water.
Jane Rawling, the FSA’s head of incidents, said parents and caregivers should not feed infants the affected formulas.
“I want to reassure parents, guardians and caregivers that we are taking urgent action, helping to ensure all of the affected product is removed from sale as a precaution. If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111.”
