BORDEAUX, France — A major health scare is unfolding across Europe’s infant nutrition sector, prompting widespread product recalls and triggering multiple investigations following the tragic deaths of two newborns. French health authorities have launched a probe to determine if contaminated powdered milk is responsible for the fatalities, which occurred in late December and early January.
Health Minister Stephanie Rist moved to reassure the public on Friday, confirming that all suspicious infant formula batches had been removed from circulation. The crisis centers on potential contamination with cereulide, a dangerous toxin known to cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea.
The investigation involves two separate cases: a two-week-old infant who died January 8 in Bordeaux after consuming formula from subsequently recalled batches, and a 27-day-old who died December 23 in Angers. According to local prosecutors, the second infant’s mother recently came forward to report her child had consumed Nestle products from the affected lots.
While French authorities emphasize that no causal link has been established between the formula and the deaths, the situation has triggered a domino effect of recalls across the industry. Nestle initiated withdrawals across several European markets on January 6, with the company stating it would fully cooperate with investigations while maintaining there is currently “no evidence” connecting their products to the infant fatalities.
The recall wave has expanded to include other major manufacturers. Danone announced precautionary withdrawals of limited batches in specific markets on Friday, citing updated guidance from food safety authorities. Similarly, French conglomerate Lactalis recalled numerous batches on Wednesday over cereulide contamination concerns across multiple international markets including Australia, China, Spain, Mexico, and several other countries.
The international scope of the recalls highlights the globalized nature of the infant formula supply chain, with affected products reaching consumers across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas as manufacturers scramble to contain the potential health risk.