Infant formula product advisory
Why has Nestlé recalled some infant formula products in multiple countries?
At Nestlé, the health of babies comes first, and we do not compromise on food safety and quality.
After confirming a quality issue in an ingredient (ARA oil) provided by a leading supplier, Nestlé recalled all products that did not meet our standards.
Nestlé was the first company to identify the issue and act, weeks before other manufacturers, in what became an industry-wide issue. We acted swiftly and responsibly to prioritize the health and wellbeing of infants.
Throughout the recall process, Nestlé has been committed to keeping parents, caregivers and the public informed, and to providing clear, transparent information and support throughout.
Are your products on the market safe?
Yes, all our infant formulas on the market are safe for babies. Our absolute priority remains the health and safety of infants.
What have you been doing to get safe products back on shelves as quickly as possible?
Production at all our infant formula factories has been running at full capacity to ensure our products reach consumers as quickly as possible and to provide parents and families with high quality products they can trust.
How did this happen that the issue went undetected until the finished product was already on the market? Were there shortcomings in your quality and safety protocols?
No. We are confident in our quality and food safety protocols and apply internationally recognized ISO standards and the latest analytical methods. We take our responsibility as a food manufacturer very seriously and continue to uphold high standards of food safety and quality that consumers expect.
Nestlé was the first company to identify the issue and take action weeks before any other manufacturers affected by this issue. We proactively alerted industry stakeholders on 30 December 2025 after confirming the issue in the oil ingredient from a global industry supplier.
Did the supplier inform Nestlé about the cereulide issue?
No. Nestlé informed the supplier of the oil ingredient contamination on 29 December 2025. We have discontinued sourcing of the ARA oil from the supplier in question.
Why did you use the supplier in question? Were compromises made on food safety to save costs?
No. We do not compromise on food safety and quality, nor on our commitment to high standards to consumers.
At Nestlé, we have a network of suppliers for various key ingredients used for our products. When it comes to selecting and sourcing from our suppliers, we are focused on quality and food safety, regardless of ingredient or raw material origin.
Our food safety management system is robust - it was precisely this system that enabled detection and immediate action, including a comprehensive recall.
Why was cereulide not part of routine industry monitoring? Is there any regulation on accepted levels of cereulide in infant formula?
Food safety and quality are Nestlé's top priority.
Because its occurrence is very rare in oils, prior to 2026, testing for cereulide was not part of routine, legally required microbiological testing criteria.
On 2 February 2026, EFSA introduced new guidance with an action limit to manage cereulide risk in infant formula. EFSA's new acute reference dose corresponds to a product level of 0.43 ng/g. Nestlé applies a stricter internal limit of 0.2 ng/g, and our approach remains unchanged.
We welcome EFSA's guidance in bringing greater clarity and consistency in managing cereulide risk across the entire infant formula industry.
What is your response to the investigations regarding the reported infant illnesses and deaths following the consumption of your product?
We are deeply moved by the testimonies of the families affected and express our sincerest condolences to grieving families.
At this stage, and as health authorities have reiterated, no medically confirmed link has been established between the consumption of recalled Nestlé infant formula products and any reported illness or fatalities.
We continue to follow developments with careful attention and remain at the disposal of the authorities, cooperating with complete transparency to provide any clarification required.
What is Nestlé’s message to parents and caregivers following this recall?
We recognize the inherent responsibility of being a food business operator, in particular when it comes to infant nutrition.
We understand that this news caused concern, and we have been committed to providing clear, transparent information and support for parents and caregivers throughout this process.
Guided by our values at all times, we acted responsibly, applying high quality standards and adhering to all applicable regulations and requirements.
Some NGOs argue Nestlé took too long to implement the recall. What’s your response?
No. Nestlé acted compliantly and responsibly. In addition, Nestlé was the first company to identify the issue and act weeks before other manufacturers. See below for a comprehensive and factual account of the actions taken from initial detection to public recall.
Philipp Navratil, Nestlé's CEO, addresses infant formula recall
13 January, 2026
Hello. I’m Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé.
Today, I want to speak to you directly about what matters most at Nestlé - the safety and quality of our products.
Last week, we announced the recall of some batches of infant formula. We did this as a precaution after identifying a quality issue with an ingredient used in some of our products.
Before I explain the situation in more detail, I first want to apologize sincerely for the worry and disruption this may have caused parents, caregivers and our customers. You trust us to provide products that are safe and of high quality, and we take that responsibility very seriously. As a parent myself, I fully understand how important this is to you.
I know there are questions, so I want to be transparent and take a few moments to share what happened and where we are as of today.
In December, we confirmed a quality concern at one of our factories in the Netherlands. We acted swiftly, and in collaboration with the authorities - we initiated a precautionary and voluntary recall across a number of countries in Europe where the affected products were sold from this specific factory.
In the meantime, our safety teams continued their investigations to ensure the root cause was fully understood. This investigation concluded that the source was a specific raw material from one of our suppliers.
Once we confirmed this, we immediately stopped distribution of all products with the affected raw material. Additionally, we initiated a precautionary recall in all impacted countries in coordination with all relevant authorities in early January.
I want to reassure you that there have been no confirmed cases of illness linked to the affected products to date. Nonetheless, it was important to act quickly and transparently. We are committed to do exactly that, every step of the way.
We have received questions about the rollout of the recalls, and I want to take a moment to explain the government-mandated process for these highly regulated products. As soon as we confirmed the issue, we engaged proactively with the respective health and food safety authorities in each country that received the affected products. We collaborated closely with the authorities and followed their guidance. This meant that the recalls were announced locally one by one as planned. All recalls have now been announced.
I would like to reassure parents and caregivers that we have reinforced and ramped up our call centers, and our teams are working 24/7 to restore full availability of our products as quickly as possible.
What's important to me in this situation is that we remain guided by our values: food safety and trust come first. This is at the heart of everything we do and reflects our deep sense of responsibility and care. The actions we are taking demonstrate our commitment to upholding the highest quality and safety standards.
To finish, let me reassure you that your safety and wellbeing is our highest priority, and that is what I want Nestlé to stand for.
Thank you.
