Expanded Danone Infant Formula Recalls Affecting UK and Ireland

The UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands have joined a growing list of European nations recalling Danone SA infant formula, as the French company faces escalating challenges related to a contamination crisis.

Recent statements from food safety agencies indicate that certain batches of Danone’s Aptamil and Cow & Gate formula brands will be removed from shelves in the UK and Ireland. Dutch authorities have also announced that some Nutrilon products will be recalled due to concerns over contamination with the toxin cereulide.

This wave of recalls follows similar actions taken by Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland, which collectively involve hundreds of batches. Reports from AFP suggest that recalls are also underway in Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

As a result of these developments, Danone’s shares fell by as much as 4% in Paris on Friday, marking a 6.5% decline for the year up to Thursday’s close.

These recalls represent the largest in Danone’s history and could have a more significant financial impact than initially anticipated. According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Duncan Fox, the estimated costs of the recalls could “far exceed” the €50 million originally projected.

Fox noted, “The damage from Danone’s UK infant formula recall can be more reputational than financial if consumers decide to change brands due to the news.”

The ongoing global formula contamination crisis has also implicated Nestlé SA and Groupe Lactalis, with further recalls expected following new recommendations from European food safety authorities for lower toxin levels.

‘Precautionary’

Danone initiated a recall of select product batches in mid-January, starting in Singapore. This was followed by a larger recall after a change in toxin guidance from Irish food safety authorities.

In a statement, Danone confirmed that it began “a precautionary recall process of specific batches of products on January 23rd and we have implemented additional ingredient controls.” However, the company did not specifically address the latest recalls in various European countries.

The contamination is believed to have originated from arachidonic acid oil, commonly added to infant formula. Although no company has publicly identified the source of the contamination, it has been traced back to China’s Cabio Biotech Wuhan Co.

Nestlé was the first to detect potential contamination in formula batches with cereulide, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and alerted trade groups in December.

Currently, more than 60 countries are recalling products, and French authorities are investigating a possible link between Nestlé’s Guigoz formula and the deaths of two infants. UK health authorities reported that 36 babies may have fallen ill after consuming contaminated formula, although no fatalities have been reported in the UK.

Despite the stringent regulations governing the baby formula industry, it has faced numerous contamination scares, factory shutdowns, and supply shocks in recent years. These issues contributed to the 2022 US shortage linked to Abbott Laboratories.

In the US, investigators are planning to test certain dairy-based ingredients used in various baby formulas for spores that can cause infant botulism, following the ByHeart recall last year, which was associated with 51 infant hospitalizations.

Photograph: Bottles of Danone SA Aptamil formula baby milk. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

The UK, Ireland, and the Netherlands have joined a growing list of European nations recalling Danone SA infant formula, as the French company faces escalating challenges related to a contamination crisis.

Recent statements from food safety agencies indicate that certain batches of Danone’s Aptamil and Cow & Gate formula brands will be removed from shelves in the UK and Ireland. Dutch authorities have also announced that some Nutrilon products will be recalled due to concerns over contamination with the toxin cereulide.

This wave of recalls follows similar actions taken by Austria, Germany, France, and Switzerland, which collectively involve hundreds of batches. Reports from AFP suggest that recalls are also underway in Romania, Hungary, and Poland.

As a result of these developments, Danone’s shares fell by as much as 4% in Paris on Friday, marking a 6.5% decline for the year up to Thursday’s close.

These recalls represent the largest in Danone’s history and could have a more significant financial impact than initially anticipated. According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Duncan Fox, the estimated costs of the recalls could “far exceed” the €50 million originally projected.

Fox noted, “The damage from Danone’s UK infant formula recall can be more reputational than financial if consumers decide to change brands due to the news.”

The ongoing global formula contamination crisis has also implicated Nestlé SA and Groupe Lactalis, with further recalls expected following new recommendations from European food safety authorities for lower toxin levels.

‘Precautionary’

Danone initiated a recall of select product batches in mid-January, starting in Singapore. This was followed by a larger recall after a change in toxin guidance from Irish food safety authorities.

In a statement, Danone confirmed that it began “a precautionary recall process of specific batches of products on January 23rd and we have implemented additional ingredient controls.” However, the company did not specifically address the latest recalls in various European countries.

The contamination is believed to have originated from arachidonic acid oil, commonly added to infant formula. Although no company has publicly identified the source of the contamination, it has been traced back to China’s Cabio Biotech Wuhan Co.

Nestlé was the first to detect potential contamination in formula batches with cereulide, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and alerted trade groups in December.

Currently, more than 60 countries are recalling products, and French authorities are investigating a possible link between Nestlé’s Guigoz formula and the deaths of two infants. UK health authorities reported that 36 babies may have fallen ill after consuming contaminated formula, although no fatalities have been reported in the UK.

Despite the stringent regulations governing the baby formula industry, it has faced numerous contamination scares, factory shutdowns, and supply shocks in recent years. These issues contributed to the 2022 US shortage linked to Abbott Laboratories.

In the US, investigators are planning to test certain dairy-based ingredients used in various baby formulas for spores that can cause infant botulism, following the ByHeart recall last year, which was associated with 51 infant hospitalizations.

Photograph: Bottles of Danone SA Aptamil formula baby milk. Photo credit: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg

Related:

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.