​Danone recalls Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula over toxin fears

Danone has recalled additional Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula products after dozens of children have fallen ill with cereulide toxin poisoning.

The fmcg giant initially recalled one Aptamil First Infant Formula product on 23 January. The products impacted by the updated recall are listed below: 

Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus. It is highly heat-stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water or when making the infant milk.

The recall is connected to the same ingredient, an arachidonic acid oil (ARA oil) manufactured in China, that triggered Nestlé’s recall of a swathe of SMA infant and follow-on formula products last month.

Danone and Nestlé have confirmed they are no longer using ingredients from the affected supplier. They assured the FSA that recalled batches were produced some time ago and are unlikely to still be on shop shelves. However, they may be in cupboards at home, so the FSA has urged parents and caregivers to check their supplies and not to feed the impacted product to babies. 

As reported by The Guardian yesterday, the UK Health Security Agency has been made aware of 36 cases of children developing symptoms consistent with cereulide toxin poisoning across the UK, including 24 in England, after consuming baby formula from the affected batches.

The FSA advised that major retailers including Tesco and Co-op continue to stock unaffected products, so parents and caregivers should still be able to purchase formula.

Where other retailers were temporarily clearing stock as a precaution, new supplies are already in the system and shelves will be restocked quickly, it said.

The FSA said it was working with Food Standards Scotland, UKHSA, DHSC, local authorities and international food safety authorities to continue to respond to the global recall. 

“Please check if you have Aptamil, Cow & Gate and SMA brands of formula at home,” Katie Pettifer, CEO of the FSA, advised consumers.

“If you have an affected batch, do not use it.  You can return it to the store and exchange it for an unaffected batch.

“If you are feeding your baby one of the affected batches, stop using it and switch to an unaffected batch from the same brand or another brand. 

“If your baby’s formula was prescribed, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before changing. The risk of harm to children from cereulide contamination at these levels is low, but consuming it could cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

“If your baby has recently consumed an affected batch and you are concerned about symptoms, contact your GP or call NHS 111.”