Key Development

Nestlé recalled selected batches of its infant nutrition products—including SMA, BEBA, NAN, Guigoz, and Nidal formulas—after detecting cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. Cereulide can trigger vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramps and cannot be destroyed by boiling, cooking, or standard formula preparation. Authorities advised parents not to feed the affected products to infants.

Nestlé confirmed no illnesses have occurred from the affected products. The company acted out of caution, prioritising the safety and well-being of babies, and apologised for any concern or inconvenience to parents, caregivers, and customers.

Countries Affected and Brands Recalled

The recall covers multiple countries in Europe—including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden—as well as Turkey and Argentina.

• France: Guigoz and Nidal formulas

• Germany: Beba and Alfamino formulas

Nestlé confirmed that all other batches of these products and its other formulas remain safe to consume.

Ingredient Issue and Supply Chain Response

After detecting a quality problem in an ingredient supplied by a vendor, Nestlé tested all arachidonic acid oil and related oil mixes in potentially affected products. The company recalled impacted batches, activated alternative suppliers, ramped up production at several factories, and accelerated distribution of safe products to maintain supply and minimise disruption.

Health Risks of Cereulide

The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that cereulide can cause rapid-onset food poisoning, including vomiting and stomach cramps. Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, urged parents, guardians, and caregivers not to feed affected products to infants or young children. Austria’s health ministry reported that the recall involves more than 800 products from over 10 Nestlé factories, making it the largest in the company’s history. Nestlé has published batch numbers for affected products and is actively removing them from sale.

Parents in the UK can check batch numbers on Nestlé’s UK website or via food.gov.uk. Powdered formula codes appear on the base of tins or boxes, while ready-to-feed formulas carry codes on the container or outer packaging. Nestlé is offering refunds for affected products.

Note for Parents in India and Other Countries

Although the recall applies to products sold in Europe, parents in India and elsewhere should verify the source of imported infant formulas before feeding them to babies. If a baby shows any symptoms such as vomiting or stomach discomfort after consuming imported formula, parents should consult a paediatrician immediately.

Source: BBC

The Economic Times