Ireland: Food and drink giant Nestlé has expanded its recall of SMA baby formula to include an additional batch amid concerns over the presence of cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin that can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps.
The latest recall comes on top of more than 60 batches of SMA formula that were withdrawn last month over the same concerns. The full recall affects a range of SMA products, including powdered and ready-to-feed formulas intended for newborns and toddlers.
In a statement, investigators at the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA) noted that Nestlé had updated its recall to cover one more batch of infant formula supplied in Northern Ireland. The FSA advised parents and caregivers who have any of the affected products to stop using them immediately and switch to an alternative formula.
Those using the prescribed formula were urged to speak to a pharmacist or doctor before changing products. Parents who have already fed the formula to their baby and are worried were advised to contact their GP or call NHS 111.
The newly recalled product is 800g packs of SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, with a best-before date of December 2027 and batch code 53390346AB. At the time of the original recall, Nestlé said that the action was taken out of an ‘abundance of caution’ due to the potential presence of cereulide.
However, the FSA had confirmed that its ongoing investigation had detected cereulide in multiple batches of SMA formula, as well as in one batch of Aptamil formula manufactured by Danone. The FSA said that the issue originated from an ingredient supplied by a third-party manufacturer and used by both brands.
Responding to the latest recall, a Nestlé spokesperson told Sky News that the affected products were sold to customers in Ireland and may have been available in Northern Ireland, but were not distributed in mainland UK.
The spokesperson added that the recall was again linked to the possible presence of cereulide caused by a contaminated ingredient. The batch in question was reassessed using an updated testing methodology and recalled to remain consistent with other previously recalled batches. Nestlé said that all batches have now been assessed against this updated standard and confirmed that no further recalls are expected.
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