Global Recall of Baby Food Products

Nestle has issued a global recall of some baby food products over fears they contain a toxin that can cause food poisoning. The food and beverage giant said certain batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula were unsafe for feeding babies.

Affected Products and Countries

The batches were sold around the world, and may contain cereulide, which can cause nausea and vomiting if consumed. The company said there were no confirmed reports of illness related to the products but was recalling them "out of an abundance of caution." Affected products were sold in several European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden.

Company Response and Refunds

“The safety and well-being of babies is our absolute priority,” Nestle said. “We sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, carers, and customers.” Nestle promised refunds to customers and said the problem was caused by an ingredient provided by one of its suppliers. The company emphasized that all other Nestle products and batches of the same products that were not recalled were safe to consume.

Identification of Affected Products

Customers are advised to look for the appropriate code on the bottom of the powdered infant formula can or box, or on the bottom of the outer box, and on the side or top of the formula container. Batch numbers of the affected products can be found on the company’s website.

Toxin and Health Risks

Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus and can cause food poisoning symptoms that develop quickly and can lead to vomiting and stomach cramps. It is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, the use of boiling water, or when preparing baby milk.

Advice to Parents and Carers

Parents, guardians, and carers should not feed the affected products to infants and young children. If you have fed this product to a baby and are concerned about possible health effects, you should seek advice from a healthcare professional by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is taking urgent action to ensure that all affected products are removed from sale as a precautionary measure.