Nestlé’s chief executive issued a video apology as the company widened a global recall of infant formula across 53 countries over concerns about possible contamination with the toxin cereulide, a heat-stable compound that can cause acute food poisoning. The precautionary recall now covers nearly 80 batches of SMA, BEBA, NAN and Alfamino infant nutrition products, and could threaten Nestlé’s strong position in China and other major markets.
The list of affected products expanded again yesterday and now includes batches that may have been imported to Ireland from the United Kingdom, according to national alerts. Ireland’s Food Safety Authority (FSAI) said it is monitoring the situation and coordinating with counterparts across Europe.
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The FSAI advised that consumption of foods containing cereulide can lead to nausea and severe vomiting, with symptoms typically appearing within five hours and lasting six to 24 hours. The agency said there have been no confirmed reports of illness in Ireland linked to the recalled batches.
Nestlé CEO Philipp Navratil apologized for the “worry and disruption” caused to parents, caregivers and retailers. In his video message, he said the company has not confirmed any cases of illness associated with the recalled formula and traced a potential quality issue to arachidonic acid oil (ARA), a fatty acid ingredient supplied to Nestlé and used in certain infant formulas.
Navratil said the company identified a quality concern at one of its factories in the Netherlands in December and began a precautionary recall in several European countries that has since widened. “We have suspended sourcing ARA oil from the supplier concerned,” a Nestlé spokesperson said, declining to name the firm. “We have already restarted production using safe oil from another supplier.”
The supply chain focus has raised questions for ARA producers. Amsterdam-listed dsm-firmenich said none of its products were affected by the Nestlé recall. Chinese company Cabio Biotech, whose shares fell nearly 12% on Jan. 8, did not respond to a request for comment. In its 2024 annual report, Cabio noted it was deepening relationships with major clients such as Nestlé while targeting international expansion.
The recall underscores how quickly disruptions can spread through global infant formula supply chains. Alerts that started in Europe moved to large markets including Brazil, China and South Africa. Nestlé is one of the biggest players in China’s infant formula sector, a market where trust and brand reputation are still shaped by past contamination scandals across the industry.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation last week urged Nestlé to “fulfil its corporate responsibility,” recall relevant batches and safeguard consumers. Analysts at Barclays said pressure from Chinese authorities and heightened sensitivity among consumers mean the episode could be “pretty damaging” for Nestlé in the short term.
Nestlé said it is working with food safety regulators in all affected countries to trace, recover and replace products, and to provide refunds where necessary. The company encouraged customers to check batch numbers against official recall lists in their country and to contact customer service or retailers for guidance.
Health authorities stressed that the recall is precautionary and that most infant formula on the market is safe to use. Still, the incident heightens scrutiny on ingredient sourcing and quality controls in a heavily regulated category where any lapse—real or perceived—can quickly erode consumer confidence.
By Abdiwahab Ahmed
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
