Nestlé Issues Recall of Infant Formula in 25 Countries Due to Potential Toxin Contamination

Nestle has announced a recall of certain batches of its infant nutrition products, including popular formulas like SMA, BEBA, and NAN, primarily across Europe. This action is due to potential contamination with a toxin that can lead to nausea and vomiting.

The recall, which initially started on a smaller scale in December, adds pressure on the new Chief Executive, Philipp Navratil. He is currently focused on revitalizing growth through a comprehensive review of the company’s portfolio, following a tumultuous period of management changes.

Despite the recall, Nestle stated that no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the affected products. The company took proactive measures after identifying a quality issue with an ingredient sourced from a leading supplier. A spokesperson for Nestle explained that the company conducted extensive testing on all arachidonic acid oil and related oil mixes used in the production of its potentially impacted infant nutrition products.

With testing now complete, Nestle has initiated the recall of the affected products. The company is also activating alternative suppliers of arachidonic acid oil, increasing production at several factories, and expediting the release of unaffected products from distribution centers to ensure a steady supply.

Food Poisoning Symptoms Can Quickly Develop

Issues related to baby formula can have severe repercussions for companies. For instance, Reckitt is currently exploring options, including a potential sale, for its Mead Johnson business, which is facing numerous lawsuits in the U.S. over claims—denied by the company—that its infant formula can lead to a fatal intestinal illness in premature infants.

Nestle, which has seen its shares decline by more than 3% over the past two trading sessions, holds nearly a quarter of the $92.2 billion global infant nutrition market, as reported by SkyQuest Technology Group. While Nestle does not disclose specific sales figures, its infant formula products are part of the Nutrition and Health Science division, which accounted for 16.6% of total sales amounting to 91.4 billion Swiss francs ($115.4 billion) in 2024.

The recall encompasses batches sold not only across Europe but also in Turkey and Argentina, due to the risk of contamination with cereulide—a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. The Food Standards Agency in Britain has indicated that this toxin is unlikely to be neutralized by cooking or boiling water when preparing infant milk.

“Cereulide can lead to food poisoning symptoms that may develop rapidly, including vomiting and stomach cramps,” stated Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA.

Largest Recall in Nestle History, Says Austrian Ministry

According to Austria’s health ministry, this recall affects over 800 products from more than 10 Nestle factories, marking it as the largest recall in the company’s history. However, a Nestle spokesperson has not confirmed these figures.

Nestle has published batch numbers for products sold in various countries that should not be consumed and is actively working to minimize supply disruptions. The company identified the potential risk at one factory in the Netherlands, with the Dutch food safety authority NVWA noting that the contaminated raw material had been utilized at multiple production sites, including those outside the Netherlands.

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow in London and Oliver Hirt in Zurich. Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Anthony Deutsch. Editing by Alexander Smith, Bernadette Baum, and Mark Potter)

Nestle has announced a recall of certain batches of its infant nutrition products, including popular formulas like SMA, BEBA, and NAN, primarily across Europe. This action is due to potential contamination with a toxin that can lead to nausea and vomiting.

The recall, which initially started on a smaller scale in December, adds pressure on the new Chief Executive, Philipp Navratil. He is currently focused on revitalizing growth through a comprehensive review of the company’s portfolio, following a tumultuous period of management changes.

Despite the recall, Nestle stated that no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the affected products. The company took proactive measures after identifying a quality issue with an ingredient sourced from a leading supplier. A spokesperson for Nestle explained that the company conducted extensive testing on all arachidonic acid oil and related oil mixes used in the production of its potentially impacted infant nutrition products.

With testing now complete, Nestle has initiated the recall of the affected products. The company is also activating alternative suppliers of arachidonic acid oil, increasing production at several factories, and expediting the release of unaffected products from distribution centers to ensure a steady supply.

Food Poisoning Symptoms Can Quickly Develop

Issues related to baby formula can have severe repercussions for companies. For instance, Reckitt is currently exploring options, including a potential sale, for its Mead Johnson business, which is facing numerous lawsuits in the U.S. over claims—denied by the company—that its infant formula can lead to a fatal intestinal illness in premature infants.

Nestle, which has seen its shares decline by more than 3% over the past two trading sessions, holds nearly a quarter of the $92.2 billion global infant nutrition market, as reported by SkyQuest Technology Group. While Nestle does not disclose specific sales figures, its infant formula products are part of the Nutrition and Health Science division, which accounted for 16.6% of total sales amounting to 91.4 billion Swiss francs ($115.4 billion) in 2024.

The recall encompasses batches sold not only across Europe but also in Turkey and Argentina, due to the risk of contamination with cereulide—a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. The Food Standards Agency in Britain has indicated that this toxin is unlikely to be neutralized by cooking or boiling water when preparing infant milk.

“Cereulide can lead to food poisoning symptoms that may develop rapidly, including vomiting and stomach cramps,” stated Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA.

Largest Recall in Nestle History, Says Austrian Ministry

According to Austria’s health ministry, this recall affects over 800 products from more than 10 Nestle factories, marking it as the largest recall in the company’s history. However, a Nestle spokesperson has not confirmed these figures.

Nestle has published batch numbers for products sold in various countries that should not be consumed and is actively working to minimize supply disruptions. The company identified the potential risk at one factory in the Netherlands, with the Dutch food safety authority NVWA noting that the contaminated raw material had been utilized at multiple production sites, including those outside the Netherlands.

(Reporting by Alexander Marrow in London and Oliver Hirt in Zurich. Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti and Anthony Deutsch. Editing by Alexander Smith, Bernadette Baum, and Mark Potter)