Recall issued of baby food after ‘possible’ toxin

Nestlé has updated its recall of several baby formula products, as they may contain a harmful toxin. A voluntary recall of several SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula products was issued by the brand in January, citing concerns over the “possible presence” of cereulide in its products.

Nestlé said in its statement that the safety and wellbeing of babies is its “absolute priority”. This product recall is being done as a precautionary measure, with the brand voluntarily recalling specific batches. This is being done due to the potential presence of cereulide in the products.

Nestlé said that there have been no confirmed reports of any illness associated with the consumption of the products in question. The Food Standards Agency’s risk statement read: “Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus.

“Cereulide is highly heat stable meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water or when making the infant milk. If consumed it can lead to rapid onset of symptoms.

“Symptoms caused by this toxin include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Even if you have not identified ill health in your baby as a result of consumption of this product, it is essential to stop using it.

“If the infant formula or follow-on formula was prescribed by a health professional for your infant, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing formula.”

The Food Standard Agency (FSA) also provided an update to one of its earlier announcements which had an error in the product name. It clarified: “The correct product name is SMA First Infant Milk. It has a pack size of 800g, batch code 53390346AB and best before December 2027. This product is only sold in Northern Ireland.”

Customers who may have bought any of the affected batches are being urged to not feed them to their baby. If consumers have purchased one of the batches, they have been asked to share a photo of the product and the batch code via https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch or call the careline on 0800 0 81 81 80 for a refund.

Anyone who has been prescribed one of these batches is being urged to “destroy” the product and speak to their healthcare professional for advice on an alternative.

Anyone concerned about their baby’s health should seek advice from a healthcare professional. Nestlé explained in a statement: “All other Nestlé products and other batches of the same product that are not in the scope of this voluntary recall are safe to consume.”