Infant formula product advisory
Why is Nestlé recalling some infant formula products in multiple countries?
First, we want parents and caregivers to know that the safety of our products and wellbeing of infants is our top priority.
Following the detection of a quality issue in an ingredient provided by a leading supplier, Nestlé has undertaken testing of all arachidonic acid (ARA) oil and corresponding oil mixes used in the production of its potentially affected infant formula products.
We want to reassure parents and families: we have taken the necessary steps in impacted countries, in close alignment with authorities, to recall all potentially affected products. This is to prioritize the health and wellbeing of families and their babies.
We know that this situation is worrying for many families. Our consumer engagement personnel in coordination with our medical experts are committed to listening attentively to parents and caregivers to treat each individual inquiry with care.
To date, we have not received any medical reports confirming a link to illness associated with our products.
In parallel, our teams are working hard to minimize any potential supply disruption.
Nestlé remains committed to keeping parents, caregivers and the public informed, and to providing clear, transparent information and support throughout this process.
How do I check if I have an affected product and what should I do with it? What should I do if I have purchased or used the recalled formula?
First, if you have any concerns about your child's health or nutrition, we advise you to talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider.
Consumers should check the product packaging for the product batch number and relevant information as well as the local Nestlé / product brand webpage in their country to check if a product is impacted. If your product is part of the recall (if applicable in your market), you should stop using it immediately and handle the product as instructed in the recall notice.
Please refer to your local Nestlé / product brand website for the official recall notice and details of how to return the product for a full refund.
When did you first realize there was an issue, and what did you do?
See the full timeline of events.
See open letter to Foodwatch (pdf, 159Kb) (30 January 2026).
What is cereulide?
Cereulide is a toxin of bacterial origin that causes foodborne illness and is created by certain strains of the microorganism, Bacillus cereus. The presence of cereulide in oils is very uncommon.
What is your reaction to the new safety threshold levels set by European authorities following the rapid risk assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)?
We welcome the latest EFSA rapid risk assessment to provide further clarity on the food safety framework for cereulide in infant formula. Nestlé’s internal limit remains lower. (In fact, EFSA’s acute reference dose of 0.014µg/kg body weight equals 0.43 ng/g of product in comparison to 0.2 ng/g of product currently used by Nestlé and aligns with the non-detectable level approach).
Nestlé recently called for this harmonization based on a science-based risk management approach to ensure all infant formula products follow the non-detectable level.
Have authorities changed guidelines on accepted levels of cereulide in infant formula?
Prior to February 2, 2026, there was no generally accepted limit for cereulide in infant formula. The EFSA announcement is a response to EU member state efforts to bring more clarity on the matter. Nestlé welcomes the latest development on cereulide management.
Did the supplier inform Nestlé about the cereulide issue?
No, our supplier did not inform Nestlé about the cereulide issue. On 29 December 2025, following our investigations and confirmation of the contamination of the ARA oil, Nestlé informed the supplier of the findings.
How do I check if I have an affected product and what should I do with it? What should I do if I have purchased or used the recalled formula?
First, if you have any concerns about your child's health or nutrition, we advise you to talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider.
Consumers should check the product packaging for the product batch number and relevant information as well as the local Nestlé / product brand webpage in their country to check if a product is impacted. If your product is part of the recall (if applicable in your market), you should stop using it immediately and handle the product as instructed in the recall notice.
Please refer to your local Nestlé / product brand website for the official recall notice and details of how to return the product for a full refund.
What are the symptoms I should look for? What should I do if my child shows signs of being unwell?
The primary symptom to look out for is severe vomiting which would typically occur between 30 minutes to 6 hours after any exposure. Secondary possible symptoms include diarrhea and unusual lethargy.
If no symptoms are displayed, there is no cause for concern of any health impact. If you have any concerns about your child's health or nutrition, we advise you to talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider. Regardless of whether symptoms are present, parents and caregivers are instructed to discontinue use of the product in accordance with the recall notice (if applicable in their market).
Has any baby been reported ill after consuming these products?
To date, we have not received any medical reports confirming a link to illness associated with our products.
Which countries and brands are impacted?
ARA oil is used in a range of different infant nutrition products sold globally, so this issue impacts multiple countries, brands and products. The specific brands and products impacted differ on a country-by-country basis. In impacted countries and in accordance with local food safety law, our teams are cooperating with authorities to determine the course of action that support parents and caregivers. Our teams are in the process of publishing the necessary information on their local Nestlé / product brand websites.
Were there shortcomings in your quality and safety protocols?
No, there are no shortcomings in our quality and safety protocols. The occurrence of cereulide in oils is extremely uncommon. Nevertheless, our broader monitoring protocols allowed us to detect the issue, identify the source of the contamination from a global industry supplier, and officially alert the relevant trade associations so that other manufacturers could be informed.
We stand ready to leverage our scientific expertise and help advance industry practices and standards, including testing protocols, as part of efforts to raise the bar and further enhance food safety.
Have you resumed production of infant formula? Can you confirm the food safety of all your products?
We have discontinued sourcing ARA oil from the affected supplier. All batches of the oil ingredient from our other suppliers are now systemically tested to confirm the absence of cereulide. Production of the implicated brands has restarted at most of our infant formula factories, and we are fully confident in the health and safety of our products.
We continue to conduct extensive testing during and after production, and confirm that all our products on the market are safe to consume.
We are now focusing on replenishing stocks and on continuing to provide parents and families with safe products they can trust.
Will there be an impact on financial results for Nestlé?
The batches of infant formula products included in the recall represent significantly less than 0.5% of annual group sales and the financial impact of the recall is not expected to be significant for the group.
For more information please visit our Global Ask Nestlé Page. For any further inquiries or to contact us, please visit this dedicated recall page.
Hello. I’m Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé.
Today, I want to speak to you directly about what matters most at Nestlé - the safety and quality of our products.
Last week, we announced the recall of some batches of infant formula. We did this as a precaution after identifying a quality issue with an ingredient used in some of our products.
Before I explain the situation in more detail, I first want to apologize sincerely for the worry and disruption this may have caused parents, caregivers and our customers. You trust us to provide products that are safe and of high quality, and we take that responsibility very seriously. As a parent myself, I fully understand how important this is to you.
I know there are questions, so I want to be transparent and take a few moments to share what happened and where we are as of today.
In December, we confirmed a quality concern at one of our factories in the Netherlands. We acted swiftly, and in collaboration with the authorities - we initiated a precautionary and voluntary recall across a number of countries in Europe where the affected products were sold from this specific factory.
In the meantime, our safety teams continued their investigations to ensure the root cause was fully understood. This investigation concluded that the source was a specific raw material from one of our suppliers.
Once we confirmed this, we immediately stopped distribution of all products with the affected raw material. Additionally, we initiated a precautionary recall in all impacted countries in coordination with all relevant authorities in early January.
I want to reassure you that there have been no confirmed cases of illness linked to the affected products to date. Nonetheless, it was important to act quickly and transparently. We are committed to do exactly that, every step of the way.
We have received questions about the rollout of the recalls, and I want to take a moment to explain the government-mandated process for these highly regulated products. As soon as we confirmed the issue, we engaged proactively with the respective health and food safety authorities in each country that received the affected products. We collaborated closely with the authorities and followed their guidance. This meant that the recalls were announced locally one by one as planned. All recalls have now been announced.
I would like to reassure parents and caregivers that we have reinforced and ramped up our call centers, and our teams are working 24/7 to restore full availability of our products as quickly as possible.
What's important to me in this situation is that we remain guided by our values: food safety and trust come first. This is at the heart of everything we do and reflects our deep sense of responsibility and care. The actions we are taking demonstrate our commitment to upholding the highest quality and safety standards.
To finish, let me reassure you that your safety and wellbeing is our highest priority, and that is what I want Nestlé to stand for.
Thank you.
