Before Christmas, Nestlé recalled selected infant formula products in, among other countries, Denmark and Sweden. The company has now – as a precautionary measure – expanded the recall worldwide following the detection of a toxin linked to Bacillus cereus.

The world’s largest food company, Nestlé, is facing a food safety crisis after extending its recall of infant formula across multiple markets. The case has brought renewed attention to raw material quality, supplier oversight and food safety in high-risk products.

Nestlé is currently recalling specific batches of infant formula globally. Details of the affected products are available on the company’s website. The recall is due to a potential risk of the toxin cereulide, which can be produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus and, in severe cases, cause food poisoning with symptoms such as nausea and vomiting.

According to Nestlé, there are currently no confirmed cases of illness linked to the affected products. The recall is described as a precautionary measure; however, in several countries authorities have chosen to temporarily withdraw entire product lines. In Vietnam, sales of products including Beba and Alfamino have been suspended, Dairy Reporter reports.

Quality issue traced to sub-supplier
Nestlé states that the case originated from a voluntary recall initiated in December after a potential risk was identified on a production line at the company’s factory in the Netherlands. A subsequent investigation found that the issue stemmed from an oil-based ingredient supplied by an external sub-supplier.

The company says it has immediately ceased using raw materials from the affected supplier and has strengthened its quality control procedures. Going forward, all future batches of the oil will be specifically tested for cereulide before being used in production.

Af Lene Mikkelsen Walsh
Foto: Nestlé