In a major global development, food giant Nestlé has initiated a large-scale recall of several batches of its infant formula brands — including SMA, BEBA, and NAN — due to possible contamination with cereulide, a toxin linked to severe foodborne illness. The recall spans across Europe, Turkey, and Argentina, marking one of the company’s most extensive product recalls to date.
According to Nestlé, the precautionary recall followed the detection of a quality issue in an ingredient sourced from a leading supplier. The company has since carried out extensive testing of all arachidonic acid oil and related oil mixes used in potentially affected products. No illnesses have been reported so far.
The toxin cereulide, produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus, is known for causing vomiting, nausea, and stomach cramps, sometimes within hours of consumption. Britain’s Food Standards Agency warned that the toxin cannot be destroyed by boiling water or cooking, making consumption risky for infants if contaminated batches are used.
Authorities in Austria described the recall as potentially “the largest in Nestlé’s history,” with more than 800 products reportedly impacted from over 10 different factories. Nestlé has not confirmed the exact recall size but said it is mobilizing alternative suppliers, boosting production in several factories, and accelerating distribution of unaffected batches to avoid shortages.
The recall particularly impacts the SMA brand in the UK and Ireland, with Nestlé releasing detailed batch codes for parents and caregivers to check. Consumers who have purchased affected products are advised not to feed them to their babies, and to request a refund by contacting Nestlé via their official website or customer care helpline.
Nestlé reaffirmed that all other products and unaffected batches remain safe for consumption. The company apologized for the concern caused, emphasizing that infant safety remains their highest priority.
For parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers, this recall serves as a critical reminder of the importance of checking product batch numbers and staying alert to manufacturer updates — especially when dealing with infant nutrition.
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