Swiss food giant Nestle announced on Monday a recall of batches of infant formula in several European countries, including the UK, as a precautionary measure.
On its website, the group said it had detected a "quality issue" in an ingredient sourced from one of its major suppliers.
"Nestle has undertaken testing of all arachidonic acid oil and corresponding oil mixes used in the production of potentially impacted infant nutrition products," it said on its website.
"No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the products involved to date."
Nestle said it was in contact with authorities in the relevant countries "to ensure the necessary steps are taken".
"Nestle assures parents and caregivers that it is implementing appropriate actions, including a product recall where necessary."
The recall also affects countries including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Sweden.
Nestle has issued a point of sale notice, providing instructions for returning the products and obtaining a refund, as well as a phone number to answer consumer questions.
The UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), in its alert, said the possible presence of cereulide (toxin) makes these products “unsafe to consume”.
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,” the FSA said.“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.”
Details of the products being recalled:
| SMA Advanced First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 51450742F1 52319722BA 52819722AA |
| Best before | May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 |
| SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 51240742F2 51890742F2 52879722AA |
| Best before | May 2027 August 2027 April 2027 |
| SMA Anti Reflux | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 51570742F3 52099722BA 52099722BB 52739722BA |
| Best before | June 2027 April 2027 June 2027 June 2027 |
| SMA ALFAMINO | |
| Pack size | 400g |
| Batch code | 51200017Y3 51210017Y1 51220017Y1 51250017Y1 51390017Y1 51420017Y2 51430017Y1 51460017Y1 51690017Y2 51690017Y3 51700017Y1 51710017Y1 51740017Y1 52760017Y5 52790017Y1 52860017Y1 53100017Y3 53110017Y1 53140017Y1 53140017Y2 53150017Y1 |
| Best before | April 2027 January 2027 February 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 June 2027 June 2027 June 2027 June 2027 June 2027 October 2027 October 2027 October 2027 November 2027 November 2027 November 2027 November 2027 November 2027 |
| SMA First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 51170346AA 51170346AB 51340346AB 51580346AA 51590346AA 52760346AB 52760346AD 52780346AA 51590346AB 52750346AE |
| Best before | April 2027 April 2027 May 2027 June 2027 June 2027 October 2027 October 2027 October 2027 June 2027 October 2027 |
| SMA First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 400g |
| Batch code | 51350346AA 52750346AD |
| Best before | May 2027 October 2027 |
| SMA First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 1.2kg |
| Batch code | 51340346BE 52740346BA 52750346BA |
| Best before | November 2026 April 2027 April 2027 |
| SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 51220346AD 51540346AC 52740346AD |
| Best before | May 2027 June 2027 October 2027 |
| SMA Comfort | |
| Pack size | 800g |
| Batch code | 52620742F3 51240742F3 51439722BA 51479722BA 51769722BA 52049722AA |
| Best before | September 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 May 2027 |
| SMA First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 200ml |
| Batch code | 52860295M 52870295M 53220295M 53230295M 52870295M 53030295M 53040295M 53070295M 53080295M |
| Best before | October 2026 October 2026 November 2026 November 2026 October 2026 October 2026 October 2026 November 2026 November 2026 |
| SMA First Infant Milk | |
| Pack size | 70ml |
| Batch code | 53170742B1 |
| Best before | November 2026 |
| SMA Lactose Free | |
| Pack size | 400g |
| Batch code | 51150346AB 51500346AB 51719722BA 51759722BA 51829722BA 51979722BA 52109722BA 53299722BA 53459722BA |
| Best before | April 2027 May 2027 April 2027 April 2027 April 2027 April 2027 April 2027 August 2027 April 2027 |