Baby formula availability has improved in recent days, after Nestlé and Danone recalls of contaminated lines led to significant shelf gaps.
Infant formula out-of-stocks currently stand at 51 out of 335 products (15.2%) across the traditional big four, down from 98 (28.4%) last week, The Grocer’s analysis of Assosia data shows [11 February 2026 vs 16 February 2026].
Asda appears to have been particularly affected: 67 out of 89 (75.3%) lines were out of stock last week. The figure was down to 25 (28%) as The Grocer went to press.
By contrast, only seven of 75 (9.3%) lines were unavailable in Tesco last week, and down to two this week.
Frustrated parents used X last week to complain they were struggling to find their preferred formula.
“I’ve just been to a local Asda and can’t find any Cow & Gate,” one shopper posted to the social media site.
“We weren’t planning to move little one onto stage 2 milk but we might have to just so we’ve actually got something to feed her,” she added.
I’ve just been to a local Asda and can’t find any cow&gate 🥲 we weren’t planning to move little one onto stage 2 milk but we might have to just so we’ve actually got something to feed her
— Sophie Rose 🥀 (@RosesForSoph) February 10, 2026
Another shopper posted: “We went into six shops yesterday just to find Aptamil for the little one.
“Found one left in Boots & got ready made stuff in Tesco. We now have two weeks’ supply at the maximum. Hopefully new batches will start to come out soon.”
A third shopper posting to Reddit speculated that, following Nestlé’s initial recall of various SMA lines in January, parents had “panic bought all the other brands”. This had exacerbated further availability issues triggered by Danone’s subsequent recall of Aptamil and Cow & Gate products last week, they said.
Restocks in progress
Retailers were “working closely with suppliers to restock”, said Andrew Opie, BRC director of food & sustainability.
A Danone spokeswoman said availability of Aptamil and Cow & Gate products had been “temporarily affected” following recall of lines contaminated with cereulide. “These checks are now largely complete and Aptamil and Cow & Gate are back on shelves,” she added.
Nestlé was “working hard to address potential shortages” of SMA, according to a spokeswoman for the supplier.
Tesco had good availability, it claimed, while Sainsbury’s had ensured safe infant milk products were always available.
Morrisons declined to comment and Asda had not responded as The Grocer went to press.
Cases of illness
Earlier this month, the UK Health Security Agency said it had been made aware of 36 cases of children developing symptoms consistent with cereulide toxin poisoning across the UK, after consuming baby formula from the affected batches.
Both Nestlé and Danone maintain no causal link has been established between their recalled products and cases of illness in babies.
Meanwhile, the French health authorities last week said they had been made aware of three reports of infant deaths relating to children who had consumed formula products impacted by recalls over cereulide toxin fears.
In France, the recalls also impact formula products made by Nestlé and Danone, but also Lactalis, which supplies the Picot brand.
To date, no causal link has been scientifically established between the contaminated formulas and infant deaths.
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