Nestlé Takes Major Step; Recalls Entire Batch Of Several Infant Products After Concerns About Toxic Substances.

New Delhi: Nestlé, the world's largest food company, has announced a recall of selected batches of its popular infant formula products in several countries. This action was taken due to concerns about the potential presence of a toxic substance called cereulide, which is produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus. 

Which countries will be affected?

The recall primarily affects countries such as the UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Switzerland. Affected brands include SMA (UK), BEBA (Germany), NAN, and others.

What was the reason for the decision?

The main reason for the recall is the potential presence of the toxin 'cereulide' in these products. According to experts, this toxin can pose a serious health risk to infants. Ingestion can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and severe abdominal cramps. 

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) clarified in its warning that the most dangerous aspect of cereulide is its heat stability. The agency stated that cereulide is highly heat-resistant, meaning it is not inactivated or destroyed by boiling water or the cooking process used when preparing infant formula. If an infant consumes it, symptoms of illness can begin very quickly.

Nestlé clarified in a notice sent to customers that this is a "voluntary recall," conducted under the company's strict quality and safety protocols. The company emphasized that they made this decision out of "extreme caution" to ensure that there is no compromise on infant safety. 

According to Nestlé, the reassuring news is that there have been no confirmed reports of any children becoming ill from consuming these products so far.

Which Nestlé products are affected? 

The products which are affected by the decision are SMA Advanced First Infant Milk 800g, SMA Advanced Follow-on Milk 800g, SMA First Infant Milk 800g, SMA First Infant Milk 400g, SMA First Infant Milk 1.2kg, SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk 800g, SMA Comfort 800g, SMA First Infant Milk 200ml, SMA First Infant Milk 70ml, SMA Lactose Free, SMA Anti-Reflux 800g, Alfamino 400g, SMA Gold Prem 2 800g.

What has Nestlé advised parents?

Nestlé has advised parents who purchased products from the affected batches to stop using them immediately. The company has issued dedicated helpline numbers for customers and is offering a full refund for the products.