The Food Standards Agency has confirmed that a dangerous toxin was found in baby formula products manufactured by Nestlé. This toxin, known as cereulide, can cause serious digestive problems including nausea and vomiting in infants who consume contaminated formula.
During January, Nestlé initiated a voluntary recall of multiple batches from its SMA infant formula line. The company acted after discovering the presence of cereulide in several product variants. Simultaneously, competitor Danone also recalled batches of its Aptamil formula due to identical contamination concerns affecting the same supply chain.
The contamination originated from a shared ingredient supplier that provided arachidonic acid oil to both manufacturers. This oil is a critical nutrient deliberately added to infant formulas to support proper development in babies who are not breastfed. The FSA has launched urgent investigations to identify and remove all potentially affected products from retailers.
Multiple Nestlé formula variants have been impacted, including SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk, SMA Anti Reflux, SMA Alfamino, SMA First Infant Milk, SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk, SMA Comfort, and SMA Lactose Free. For Danone, only the 800-gram pack of Aptamil First Infant Formula with expiration date 31-10-2026 requires withdrawal.
Health authorities recommend that parents immediately stop using recalled products and switch to alternative formulas. Parents whose infants have already consumed contaminated formula should contact their general practitioner or call NHS 111 for medical guidance. Consumers can verify batch numbers on the Nestlé website or at food.gov.uk.
Batch codes appear on the base of formula tins and boxes for powdered versions, while ready-to-feed containers display codes on the base of outer packaging or on container sides and tops. Danone stated it has withdrawn limited specific batches from targeted markets and encourages concerned parents to contact its careline for assistance.
