Nestlé recalls SMA baby formula over potential cereulide contamination risk

UK – Nestlé has announced a recall of selected baby formula products after identifying potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin that can cause food poisoning, prompting warnings to parents and caregivers.  

The food and beverage company said specific batches of its SMA infant formula and SMA follow-on formula were affected and should not be fed to babies. According to Nestlé, the recall is precautionary, and there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the products so far.  

Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus bacteria and can trigger symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps.   

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that the toxin is heat-stable and is unlikely to be destroyed by boiling water, cooking or normal preparation of infant formula.  

In a statement, Nestlé said the issue was traced to an ingredient supplied by a third-party supplier. The company emphasised that all other Nestlé products, including unaffected batches of the same formulas, remain safe to consume.  

“The safety and wellbeing of babies is our absolute priority,” the company said, apologising for the concern and inconvenience caused to families. Nestlé added that it is offering full refunds to customers who purchased the recalled products. 

Batch numbers and product details have been published on Nestlé’s website and through the UK Food Standards Agency at food.gov.uk.   

Consumers are advised to check the code printed on the base of tins or boxes for powdered formula, and on the outer packaging or container for ready-to-feed products.  

Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, urged parents, guardians and caregivers not to feed infants or young children the affected products. She said the agency is working to ensure all impacted items are removed from sale as a precautionary measure.  

“If you have fed this product to a baby and have concerns about possible health effects, you should seek advice from healthcare professionals by contacting your GP or calling NHS 111,” Rawling said.  

The recall comes amid heightened scrutiny of infant nutrition products. In November 2025, Nestlé faced criticism following reports that its Cerelac baby cereals sold in several African markets contained added sugar, with investigations indicating that more than 90 percent of sampled products had nearly six grams of added sugar per serving.

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