Nestlé has issued a recall for certain lots of baby formula, primarily in European countries, citing potential contamination with a toxin capable of causing symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Notably, the recall does not impact any products in Canada, as confirmed by the company.
The decision to recall the affected products, including batches of SMA, BEBA, and NAN infant formulas, was made as a precautionary measure due to concerns about the presence of a toxin known as cereulide. Cereulide is a toxin generated by specific bacteria strains that can lead to food poisoning, resulting in intense vomiting and nausea lasting up to 24 hours, as highlighted by Ireland’s food inspection agency, which is among the nations affected by the recall. The agency also warned that the toxin could be pre-formed in food and is highly resistant to heat.
Nestlé emphasized its commitment to the safety and well-being of infants, stating that the recall was a proactive step aligned with their stringent product quality and safety standards. The company disclosed that product testing was initiated following the detection of a quality issue in an ingredient from a supplier. With the completion of testing, Nestlé has transitioned to alternative suppliers to maintain formula supply levels.
While Nestlé reported no confirmed illnesses linked to the recalled products, the recall spans various countries, including Turkey, Argentina, the U.K., Ireland, and other European nations. However, Nestlé clarified to CBC that the recall has no impact on Canadian products. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency also affirmed that there is no distribution of the affected formulas in Canada.
Nestlé has provided a list of the affected batch numbers online, with the batch codes located on the packaging of the formula products. Consumers who have purchased the impacted formulas are advised not to feed them to infants and to contact the company for a refund.
Austria’s health ministry disclosed that the recall affected over 800 products from more than 10 Nestlé factories, marking the company’s largest recall, though these figures have not been independently verified by Nestlé. Nestlé, a Swiss multinational corporation, holds close to a quarter share of the $92.2 billion global infant nutrition market, as per SkyQuest Technology Group.
The recall, which commenced on a smaller scale in December, has added pressure on Philipp Navratil, Nestlé’s new CEO, who aims to drive growth through a comprehensive portfolio review following a period of leadership changes.
