UK Food Standards Agency expands infant formula recall after dozens of babies are hospitalised from toxic ARA oil contamination in popular Danone and Nestlé products

Parents across the UK are being warned to urgently check their baby formula after new recalls from major brands Danone and Nestlé.

The alert follows dozens of babies falling ill, with some requiring hospital treatment, due to suspected contamination with the cereulide toxin.

Health officials are urging immediate action to prevent further cases.

The scandal, which has already rocked the infant nutrition market, now involves both first infant milk and follow-on formula products from popular brands including Aptamil, Cow & Gate, and SMA.

What Happened? Dozens of Babies Fall Sick

The UK Health Security Agency reported 36 confirmed cases of babies showing symptoms linked to cereulide toxin exposure.

Cases span the entire UK: 24 in England, 7 in Scotland, 3 in Wales, 1 in Northern Ireland, and 1 in the Crown Dependencies.

Common symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

While the risk of severe harm is considered low, some infants needed hospital care, highlighting the seriousness of the contamination.

Urgent Recalls Across Multiple Brands

Danone has now expanded its recall of Aptamil and Cow & Gate products.

Parents are urged to check batch numbers against the official Food Standards Agency (FSA) list and immediately stop using any affected products.

Nestlé has also recalled several SMA formula lines due to the same contamination issue.

Katie Pettifer, Chief Executive of the FSA, stressed: “Affected batches are unlikely to still be on shop shelves but may still be in your cupboard.

If you have any of these products, stop using them and return them for an exchange.”

How the Contamination Happened

Investigators have traced the problem to a shared ingredient supplier in China.

Specifically, the toxin may have been introduced through arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, an additive used to enrich formula with omega-6 fatty acids.

This oil is produced via microbial fermentation—a process that, if not carefully controlled, can allow harmful bacteria to produce cereulide.

Cereulide is highly heat-resistant, which means it is not destroyed by boiling water or standard formula preparation.

The toxin interferes with energy production in the body and is most commonly associated with food poisoning from contaminated rice, pasta, and dairy.

What Parents Should Do Now

Parents and caregivers should immediately check batch numbers on Aptamil, Cow & Gate, and SMA products in their homes.

Even if a batch is not currently available in stores, it may still be present in cupboards.

For affected batches, parents should:

• Stop using the product immediately.
• Return it to the store for a replacement.
• Switch to a safe batch from the same or a different brand.
• If the formula was prescribed, consult a doctor or pharmacist before making changes.

Parents whose babies have consumed contaminated formula and show symptoms are advised to contact their GP or call NHS 111.

Which Products Are Affected?

The FSA has published detailed lists of recalled products, including batch codes and best-before dates.

Key highlights include:

Danone Recalls:

• Aptamil First Infant Formula (800g) – batches up to Oct 31, 2026
• Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk (800g) – all dates 11 June 2026 to 25 Jan 2027
• Aptamil Follow-On Milk (700g–1.2kg) – various dates up to Feb 2027
• Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux (800g) – all dates 7 June 2026 to 18 Feb 2027

Nestlé SMA Recalls:

• SMA Advanced First Infant Milk (800g) – batches May 2027
• SMA ALFAMINOPack (400g) – multiple batches up to Nov 2027
• SMA First Infant Milk (400g–1.2kg) – batches up to Dec 2027
• SMA Comfort, Little Steps, and Lactose-Free variants – multiple batches

Full batch details are available on the FSA’s Product Recall Information Notices.

Retailers Respond, But Risk Remains at Home

Major UK supermarkets, including Tesco and Co-op, continue to stock unaffected formula.

However, the main concern is that affected products may already be in family homes, making parental vigilance crucial.

Danone and Nestlé have confirmed that current products on sale do not contain the contaminated ingredient, reassuring parents that safe alternatives are still available.

Why This Matters

Infant formula is a staple for many families, making this contamination a significant public health concern.

Even though the toxin levels are unlikely to cause long-term harm, vomiting and diarrhea in babies can quickly lead to dehydration, highlighting the need for swift action.

This incident also raises broader questions about supply chain safety, particularly when ingredients come from overseas suppliers.

Regulators are investigating to prevent similar issues in the future.

What’s Next?

Health authorities are continuing their investigation into the contamination and monitoring for new cases.

Parents are advised to stay informed through FSA updates and to check batch numbers before using any formula.

Experts expect increased scrutiny on ingredient suppliers and tighter safety controls in formula production, ensuring parents can trust the products they rely on to feed their babies safely.

Summary

Dozens of babies in the UK have fallen ill due to cereulide contamination in infant formula from Danone and Nestlé.

Urgent recalls have been issued for multiple batches of Aptamil, Cow & Gate, and SMA products.

Parents are urged to check batch numbers, stop using affected formula, and consult healthcare professionals if babies show symptoms.

The contamination originated from a shared Chinese supplier, highlighting supply chain vulnerabilities.

Authorities are investigating further, and safe formula remains available in stores.