Nestlé announces a precautionary recall of infant formula products due to bacterial toxins.

Nestlé, the global food company, announced a voluntary and precautionary recall of specific quantities of infant formula products in a number of markets, after detecting the possibility of contamination with the toxic substance Cereulide, a substance produced by the Bacillus cereus bacteria, which may pose a health risk to infants.

Products included in the recall:

The company explained that the recall includes a number of its leading baby nutrition brands, including:

1. SMA, including milk for the next age group.
2. NAN.
3. ALFAMINO.
4. S-26 GOLD.
5. S-26 Ultima.

Health warnings from regulatory authorities

In a strongly worded warning, the British Food Standards Agency confirmed that the substance “ceriolide” has a very high degree of thermal stability, which means that preparing milk using boiling water or exposing it to heat does not deactivate or eliminate the toxins, which keeps the risk of infection present even when adhering to traditional preparation methods.

For its part, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority indicated that the symptoms of poisoning by this substance appear quickly, and include severe nausea, frequent vomiting, in addition to cramps and severe abdominal pain.

Precautionary withdrawal and reassurances to consumers

Nestlé confirmed in a notice to its customers that the recall decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” and in compliance with its strict quality protocols, stressing that no illnesses related to these products had been recorded or reported up to the time of the statement.

In the UK and Ireland, the company has set up direct communication channels to enable consumers to obtain refunds for affected products. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has urged consumers to immediately dispose of products bearing the announced batch numbers, confirming that it is coordinating directly with the company to ensure the complete removal of all affected quantities from local markets.

Call to review batch numbers

The regulatory authorities urged parents to review the lists of “Batch Codes” published on the official websites of the company and the relevant authorities, to ensure the safety of the products they have, calling for communication with the unified reporting centers if the affected products are found or detected in the sales outlets.

Nestlé confirmed in a notice to its customers that the recall decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” and in line with its strict quality protocols, stressing that no illnesses had been recorded or reported up to the time of the statement.

In the UK and Ireland, the company has set up direct customer support lines to enable customers to get their money back. In Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) has urged consumers to immediately dispose of products bearing the announced batch numbers, confirming that it is coordinating directly with the company to ensure all affected quantities are withdrawn from local markets.