Baby formula manufacturers Nestle and Danone are facing renewed scrutiny over their handling of a mass recall of contaminated products, following reports from French, Belgian, and Swiss public media outlets. A joint inquiry alleges that Nestle delayed informing European authorities about the presence of cereulide, a toxin found in a Chinese ingredient that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea and poses particular risks to infants.
Allegations of Delayed Action
The media reports claim that Nestle conducted "silent" withdrawals of affected products in Austria and Germany starting from 24 December, before any public recall was announced. Nestle, however, strongly denies these allegations, stating that it acted with full transparency and cooperated with authorities. The company asserts that it followed a strict process before launching public recalls from 5 January, after detecting the toxin in late November.
Danone's Involvement
Danone products were also withdrawn in January prior to public recalls, according to the reports. Danone has not yet issued a detailed response to these allegations. French prosecutors in Bordeaux and Angers have ruled out a link between infant deaths and the recalled formula products, with another investigation transferred to Paris.
The controversy highlights ongoing concerns about food safety and regulatory oversight in the infant formula industry, as parents and health officials demand greater transparency and faster action from manufacturers when potential health risks are identified.
