Food giant Danone has initiated a recall of its Aptamil First Infant Formula due to concerns about the presence of a harmful toxin. The recall specifically targets a batch sold in the UK, identified by the best-before date of October 31, 2026, and batch number 31-10-2026. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has issued a warning, advising parents and caregivers not to feed this product to infants or young children.
The toxin in question, known as cereulide, is produced by the foodborne bacteria Bacillus cereus. Consumption of this toxin can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps. Darren Whitby, head of incidents and resilience at the FSA, emphasized the importance of this recall, stating, “If you have fed this product to a baby and have any concerns about potential health impact, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals by contacting your GP or by calling NHS 111.”
The recall follows a similar action taken by Nestle, which recently pulled several batches of its SMA infant formula products due to possible contamination with the same toxin. Nestle stated that no confirmed illnesses have been reported related to their products, although they have also advised against feeding the affected products to infants.
According to the FSA, the Nestle products implicated in this situation include SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Anti Reflux, and others. The agency is working closely with both Danone and Nestle to ensure that all affected products are removed from sale promptly.
Parents and caregivers who may have purchased either the Danone or Nestle products are urged to check their supplies. Any inquiries regarding the safety of these formulas should be directed to healthcare professionals.
In a statement, Nestle acknowledged the quality issue was linked to an ingredient sourced from a leading supplier. The company is conducting thorough testing of all ingredients used in the production of potentially impacted infant nutrition products.
Despite the ongoing situation, Nestle has reassured parents that there have been no confirmed reports of illness resulting from the affected products to date. They are committed to maintaining transparency and providing continuous updates to consumers throughout the recall process.
The FSA and both companies continue to stress the importance of consumer safety, urging vigilance among parents and guardians regarding the products they use for their infants. More detailed information on the recalled batches can be found on the FSA website and the Nestle website.
