An announcement has been made following a worldwide recall of specific baby formula products by Nestlé. The multinational food company initiated the recall due to concerns that the products may contain a harmful toxin unsuitable for infants.
Although no confirmed instances of sickness have been reported, Nestlé advises parents to return the affected items to the store where they were purchased and refrain from feeding them to their children. The affected products have been identified in various European countries, including the UK, France, Austria, Italy, and Germany.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has provided an update confirming that Nestlé has modified its ‘precautionary recall’ of certain baby formula products. Changes have been made to the expiration dates of some affected product batches, prompting parents to verify if their product is included.
Nestlé released a statement earlier this week stating that they detected a quality issue with an ingredient supplied by a major supplier. As a result, Nestlé conducted testing on all arachidonic acid (ARA) oil and related oil mixes used in the production of potentially affected infant nutrition products. The company is cooperating with UK authorities and voluntarily recalling specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula as a precautionary measure.
The FSA disclosed that updates to the expiration dates of affected batches of SMA Advance Follow-On Milk and SMA ALFAMINO have been issued by Nestlé. The affected products in the UK include:
For a detailed list of the affected products, including batch codes and best before dates, visit the FSA website here.
Cereulide is the toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus. It is commonly associated with food poisoning and can be present in various food products, especially improperly stored cooked rice and pasta.
Unlike many other foodborne bacteria, cereulide is particularly hazardous because it is heat-resistant and can survive cooking or reheating. The toxin can induce a wide range of food poisoning symptoms, primarily vomiting and nausea.
Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, emphasized that parents, guardians, and caregivers should avoid feeding infants or young children with the affected products. Cereulide, produced by the food poisoning bacteria Bacillus cereus, can cause rapid-onset food poisoning symptoms like vomiting and stomach cramps.
Rawling reassured parents and caregivers that urgent actions are being taken to remove all affected products from sale as a precaution. If concerns arise about potential health impacts after feeding the product to a baby, seeking advice from healthcare professionals through a GP or NHS 111 is recommended.
Customers who purchased an affected batch are urged to contact Nestlé via its online form here or by calling its careline on 1900 931 832.