Nestlé has announced a global recall of selected batches of its infant and follow-on formula products after concerns emerged that they may contain a harmful toxin linked to food poisoning.
The food and beverage giant said specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula should not be fed to babies. The affected products were sold internationally and may contain cereulide—a toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps.
Cereulide is produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus bacteria. Symptoms of food poisoning linked to the toxin can develop rapidly, and health authorities warn that it cannot be destroyed by boiling water, cooking, or standard formula preparation methods.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) urged parents, guardians, and caregivers to avoid feeding the affected products to infants and young children. Jane Rawling, the FSA’s head of incidents, said urgent steps are being taken to remove all impacted items from sale as a precaution.
She advised that anyone who has fed the recalled formula to a baby and has health concerns should seek medical advice from a GP or contact NHS 111.
Nestlé said there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the products, but the recall is being carried out “out of an abundance of caution.” The company apologised for the concern caused and reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of babies remain its top priority.
The company confirmed the recall applies worldwide, with affected products sold across several European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden. In France, the recall covers certain batches of Guigoz and Nidal formulas, while in Germany the products are sold under the names Beba and Alfamino.
Nestlé stressed that all other products and unaffected batches remain safe for consumption. Customers will be offered refunds, and the company said the issue was traced to an ingredient supplied by an external provider.
In the UK, batch numbers for the recalled products are available on Nestlé’s official website and via food.gov.uk. Consumers are advised to check the code on the base of tins or boxes for powdered formulas, and on the outer packaging or container for ready-to-feed products.
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