Nestle and Danone Recall Tainted Infant Formulas in Europe

European food safety authorities have confirmed that several batches of infant formula from major manufacturers Nestlé and Danone were contaminated with cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in consumers. The recalls, initiated in late 2025 and early 2026, affect products sold primarily in the United Kingdom and other European countries, with the contamination traced to a shared third-party supplier of arachidonic acid oil, an ingredient added to formulas to support infant brain development.

The Food Standards Agency in the UK announced the findings on Friday, identifying the affected component in Nestlé's SMA line as the arachidonic acid oil. Nestlé first issued a voluntary recall on January 5, 2026, for specific batches of products including SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk, SMA Anti-Reflux, SMA Alfamino, SMA First Infant Milk, SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk, SMA Comfort, and SMA Lactose-Free. Danone followed with a precautionary recall on January 23, 2026, targeting certain batches of Aptamil First Infant Formula 800g, which were distributed across Europe with expiration dates in October 2026.