Nestlé said on Tuesday it is recalling certain batches of its infant nutrition products, including SMA, BEBA and NAN infant and follow-on formulas, across several European countries due to potential contamination with a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.
The recall, which initially began on a limited scale in December, presents another challenge for newly appointed CEO Philipp Navratil, who is seeking to revive growth through a review of the company’s product portfolio following a period of management instability.
Nestlé said no illnesses or related symptoms have been confirmed in connection with the recalled products. The action was taken after a quality issue was detected in an ingredient supplied by a major vendor. As a precaution, the company tested all arachidonic acid oil and related oil mixes used in the production of potentially affected infant nutrition products, a spokesperson said.
Nestlé, which accounts for nearly a quarter of the global $92.2 billion infant nutrition market, recalled products sold in Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The recall relates to the possible presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus bacterium.
Britain’s Food Standards Agency warned that the toxin is not destroyed by boiling water or during formula preparation and can cause rapid onset of symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. Norway’s food safety authority, however, said there was no acute health risk.
Austria’s health ministry described the move as the largest product recall in Nestlé’s history, claiming it affected more than 800 products from over 10 Nestlé factories. The company said it could not independently verify those figures.
Nestlé has published batch numbers for affected products and advised consumers not to use them. The company said it is working to minimise supply disruptions and has traced the potential risk to one of its factories in the Netherlands.
