Major Food Safety Alert: Nestlé Product Recall Expands Following FSA Investigation
The Food Standards Agency has issued a significant update regarding the ongoing Nestlé product recall, confirming the specific ingredient responsible for potential food poisoning risks. This development comes after initial concerns were raised earlier this month about several batches of SMA infant formula products.
Contaminated Ingredient Identified
On Friday afternoon, the Food Standards Agency officially confirmed that the affected ingredient in the recalled SMA products is arachidonic acid (ARA) oil. This nutritional component plays a crucial role in infant development and is typically added to formula to ensure that babies who are not breastfed receive adequate nutrition.
Jodie Wild, head of the incidents unit at the FSA, provided detailed information about the contamination source: "Ongoing investigations have identified that the contamination originated from a shared, third-party ingredient supplier. The affected ingredient is an oil called arachidonic acid (ARA)."
Urgent Product Tracing Underway
The Food Standards Agency has implemented emergency measures to trace all products that may have used ingredients from the identified supplier. Ms Wild emphasised the urgency of this operation: "We are urgently tracing all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier to make sure any affected products are removed from sale."
The contamination involves the presence of cereulide toxin, which can cause several unpleasant symptoms including:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
Affected Products List
The recall affects multiple SMA infant formula products, including:
- 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
Company Response and Consumer Reassurance
A Nestlé spokesperson addressed the situation, stating: "There has been no change to the status of this recall. Nestlé moved quickly and decisively to voluntarily issue a recall notice on January 5, 2026. This was due to the possible presence of cereulide in certain products because of an ingredient used in specific batches."
The company further emphasised: "We want to reassure everyone that there has been no change to the scope or nature of this recall and we thank everyone who has got in touch with us for their patience and apologise again that we have had to take this action."
Ongoing Monitoring and Future Actions
Ms Wild from the FSA confirmed that both recalls relate specifically to the presence of cereulide toxin and provided important information for concerned consumers: "Both recalls are due to the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and nausea. If further recalls are needed, we will announce them immediately."
The Food Standards Agency continues to monitor the situation closely and maintains regular communication with Nestlé to ensure all potentially affected products are removed from circulation promptly. Consumers who have purchased any of the listed products are advised to check batch numbers and follow official recall guidance.
