The Food Standards Agency has issued a critical update following product recalls by two major baby formula brands, Nestle and Danone, revealing that the contaminations originated from a shared third-party ingredient supplier.
Shared Supplier Identified as Source
In a statement released on Monday 26 January 2026, the FSA confirmed that ongoing investigations have pinpointed the contamination, which led to both the Nestle SMA and Danone Aptamil recalls, as stemming from this single third-party provider.
Jodie Wild, head of incidents at the FSA, said: “Ongoing investigations have identified that the contamination originated from a shared third-party ingredient supplier. As a result of these investigations, Danone is recalling one batch of Aptamil product due to the presence of cereulide.”
Urgent Actions and Parental Guidance
The FSA is working urgently with manufacturers to trace all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier and ensure all affected items are removed from sale. It is also collaborating with the UK Health Security Agency, local authorities, and industry on sampling where appropriate, with updates to follow when results are ready.
Wild advised parents: “If you have any of the affected products, stop using them as soon as possible and switch to an alternative formula. If the formula was prescribed by a health professional, consult a pharmacist or other medical professional before changing. If you have fed it to your baby and are concerned, contact your GP or NHS 111 for advice.”
She encouraged parents to sign up for food alerts at the FSA website to stay informed.
Details of the Danone Recall
On January 23, food giant Danone recalled a batch of its Aptamil baby formula over concerns it could contain the cereulide toxin, which can cause vomiting and stomach cramps. The FSA stated that only one batch sold in the UK was affected, though additional batches in other countries were also impacted.
The agency confirmed that the cereulide toxin, known to cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps if consumed, had been found in the batch distributed in the UK. The alert specifically relates to batch 31-10-2026 of Aptamil First Infant Formula 800g, with a best-before date of October 31 2026.
Earlier Nestle Recall
Earlier this month, on January 6, Nestle recalled some of its baby formula products over similar concerns about cereulide contamination. The company attributed the problem to an ingredient provided by a leading supplier, now identified as the shared third-party source.
Nestle products affected by the recall include:
- SMA Advanced First Infant Milk
- SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk
- SMA Anti Reflux
- SMA Alfamino
- SMA First Infant Milk
- SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk
- SMA Comfort
- SMA Lactose Free
More detailed information about which batches have been recalled can be found on the FSA website or the Nestle official site.
Ongoing Monitoring and Safety
The FSA has assured the public that it will communicate immediately if further recalls are necessary. Parents are urged to remain vigilant and check product batches against the listed recalls to ensure the safety of their infants.
