FSAI: Additional batch of infant formula recalled
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has confirmed that another batch of infant formula has been recalled due to the possible presence of cereulide.
The authority said today (Monday, February 3) that Nestlé is extending its recent product recall in Ireland to include an additional batch of its SMA First Infant Milk.
The product and batch being recalled is as follows: SMA First Infant Milk; 800g pack size, batch code: 53390346AB and expiry date: December 2027
The recall has been initiated following the European Food Safety Authority’s recommendations on analytical testing, which resulted in Nestlé determining that this batch is non-compliant and needs to be recalled.
The FSAI is advising parents, guardians and caregivers who may have the recalled products at home not to feed them to their infant or young child.
According to the authority, there is no indication that this incident has resulted in illness in Ireland.
Infant formula
Cereulide toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant.
The FSAI said consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually 6 to 24 hours.
Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batch from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.
Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batch and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retailer customers.
This recall is associated with a contaminated raw ingredient which was also implicated in the recent recalls of some batches of infant formula and follow-on formula.
Nestlé is advising its customers that have purchased any of these batches to contact them via its online form, by sharing a photo of the product and the batch code or by calling its careline on 1800 931 832.
Letter
In a open letter to parents published last week, Vicky Woods, managing director for Nestlé Nutrition in the UK and Ireland, apologised for the disruption and uncertainty caused by the recall of some of the company's products.
"As you know, we recently found that one of the ingredients supplied to us was not of the right quality and did not meet the standards we require.
"The safety and wellbeing of babies is our highest priority. That means we cannot accept a product that is anything less than perfect and we can only apologise that some of our products fell below those exceptionally high standards.
"In these circumstances, taking the precaution of recalling all potentially affected products is the right thing to do," the letter said.
Woods said that the "rigorous testing which brought this issue to light is being stepped up even further", adding the company is "restoring supply as quickly as we possibly can".
Anyone with questions or concerns then you can speak to the Nestlé Careline team on 1800 931 832 (Ireland) or 0800 081 81 80 (UK).
While those with health concerns on behalf of their baby are adviced to contact a healthcare professional.
FSAI
The following is a list published by the FSAI of all affected SMA batches and products:
