The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed the presence of a toxin that can cause food poisoning in some Nestlé baby formula products.
At the start of this month, the Swiss food and drink company recalled several batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula due to concerns they contained cereulide, which can trigger nausea and vomiting when consumed.
The FSA said it had identified the problem ingredient as arachidonic acid oil. This plays an important role in infant development and is added to formula to ensure babies who are not breastfed receive it.
The food regulator said the ongoing investigations had confirmed that the contaminated oil had come from an ingredient supplier used by both Nestlé and rival food group Danone. This month, Danone also recalled a batch of its Aptamil baby formula over the same concerns.
“We are urgently tracing all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier to make sure any affected products are removed from sale,” said Jodie Wild, head of incidents unit at the FSA.
The Nestlé products affected include 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.
“Both recalls are due to the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and nausea,” continued Wild. “If further recalls are needed, we will announce them immediately.”
The FSA urged anyone who has bought the recalled formula to stop using it and switch to an alternative. They should contact their GP or NHS 111 if their baby has already consumed it.
The batch numbers of the affected products in the UK can be found on the Nestle website or by visiting food.gov.uk.
Customers are advised to look for the corresponding code on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas, or the base of the outer box and on the side or top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.
Nestlé insisted that it had “moved quickly and decisively” to voluntarily issue a recall notice on 5 January: “We want to reassure everyone that there has been no change to the scope or nature of this recall and we thank everyone who has got in touch with us for their patience and apologise again that we have had to take this action.”
The FSA said the only batch of Aptamil affected was the 800g pack of First Infant Formula coded EXP 31-10-2026. Danone said on its website that to comply with the latest guidance it had decided to “withdraw from targeted markets a very limited number of specific batches” and parents could contact its careline if they had any questions or concerns.
