Four reports about the illness of Dutch children after drinking baby milk from Nestlé
Nestlé has received reports of illness in four children in the Netherlands after consuming its formula, with symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The company asserts that this does not prove that the formula caused the illnesses. Authorities in France are also investigating the death of a child linked to Nestlé's formula.
On January 5, Nestlé issued a safety warning for several of its brands, including Little Steps, Alfamino, SMA, and BEBA, due to the potential presence of Bacillus cereus bacteria, which can produce a toxin that causes food poisoning, in one of the ingredients. The recall includes 63 countries, including the Netherlands.
The consumer protection organization Foodwatch stated that it received dozens of reports from concerned parents across Europe, many of which were about sick children. Among them is the Dutch father, Jip, whose son Oliver, about six months old, became ill after consuming a new can of Little Steps milk. Jip said: "He wasn't drinking well, was crying during feeding, and had diarrhea. He became pale and lethargic."
Medical consultations, including a family doctor and two pediatricians, indicated that Oliver likely contracted Bacillus cereus bacteria, the same bacteria that prompted Nestlé to recall its products globally. A report from the family doctor confirmed this assessment, according to RTL Nieuws. However, Nestlé's CEO, Philipp Navratil, stated on January 13 that there have been "no confirmed cases of illness" related to the milk, and he considered the recall a "precautionary measure."
Oliver's father expressed his dissatisfaction with Nestlé's response. They informed the company in the Netherlands on January 6, and the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) the following day. After changing the type of milk, Oliver fully recovered. His father is now planning to hold Nestlé accountable and demand compensation for the suffering caused by the milk.