Nestlé has issued a global recall of certain batches of its SMA infant and follow-on formula after concerns they may contain a toxin that can cause food poisoning.
The company said the affected products may contain cereulide, a toxin produced by the Bacillus cereus bacteria, which can trigger nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. Cereulide is not destroyed by cooking or by making the formula with boiling water.
Nestlé said there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to the affected products, but the recall is being carried out “out of an abundance of caution.”
“The safety and wellbeing of babies is our absolute priority,” a company spokesperson said. “We sincerely apologise for any concern or inconvenience caused to parents, caregivers, and customers.”
Customers in the UK can find the affected batch numbers on Nestlé’s UK website or via food.gov.uk. Parents and caregivers are advised to check the code on the base of powdered formula tins or boxes, or on the base, side, or top of ready-to-feed formula containers.
The company has promised refunds for customers and said the issue was caused by an ingredient from one of its suppliers.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that parents and caregivers should not feed the affected products to infants or young children.
Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “We are taking urgent action to ensure all of the affected product is removed from sale as a precaution. 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 calling NHS 111.”
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