Concerns about the use of a contaminant in other products after its discovery in baby formula
The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has warned that a contaminated raw material used in baby milk produced by Nestlé may also have been used in other food products, although no confirmed cases have been reported so far.
The NVWA clarified that the transfer of the contaminating substance to other production chains cannot be ruled out, noting that the responsibility for verification and tracking lies with the suppliers and manufacturers who used this substance. The authority confirmed that there are currently no reports of other unsafe products in the markets.
The contamination is related to cereulide, a toxin produced by certain bacteria, which can cause digestive disorders such as diarrhea or severe vomiting within a period ranging from 30 minutes to six hours after ingestion. Infants may also experience lethargy. Nestlé reported the issue to NVWA on December 9 after internal control systems in a Dutch production line revealed an abnormality.
Subsequent investigations revealed that the source of contamination was not the factory itself, but an imported component in the form of contaminated fatty acid. Nestlé did not disclose the name of the supplier, but the French Ministry of Health stated that the supplier was a Chinese company. In France, the judiciary is investigating whether the deaths of two children may be linked to the contaminated infant formula.
And since the supplying company itself has provided raw materials to other companies, investigations are currently underway to determine if there are additional affected products. The French companies Danone and Lactalis have already begun precautionary withdrawal campaigns for some products in several countries, excluding the Netherlands.
Nestlé confirmed that the contamination was limited to specific batches of Little Steps and Alfamino infant formula products, which have the operation numbers 51230346AC and 51680017Y1 printed on the bottom of the packaging. The company indicated that all its other products are safe, while the NVWA emphasized that investigations are ongoing and will be notified as soon as any contaminated products are found for sale in the Netherlands.