Nestle announced a major recall of some batches of its infant nutrition products, including SMA, BEBA, and NAN formulas, across Europe, Turkey, and Argentina due to potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. The recall, which began on a smaller scale in December, comes after testing revealed an issue with an ingredient supplied by a leading vendor. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.
The Swiss food giant is activating alternative suppliers for the affected ingredient, ramping up production at multiple factories, and accelerating the distribution of unaffected products to maintain supply. Cereulide cannot be destroyed by boiling water or typical formula preparation, and can cause rapid-onset food poisoning symptoms such as vomiting and stomach cramps, according to the UK Food Standards Agency.
Austria’s health ministry stated that the recall involves over 800 products from more than 10 factories, marking the largest recall in Nestle’s history. The company’s investigation traced the contaminated ingredient back to a factory in the Netherlands, though it was used across multiple production sites internationally. Nestle is working to minimize supply disruption while ensuring safety.
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