What began as a localized safety concern in Europe has escalated into a massive global crisis for Nestlé, as the company’s voluntary recall of infant formula widened today, Wednesday, 7 January 2026, to include markets across Africa, the Americas, and Asia.
The recall described by some health ministries as the largest in Nestlé’s history involves dozens of batches of flagship brands, including SMA, NAN, BEBA, and Alfamino, following the discovery of a dangerous bacterial toxin.
The recall was triggered by the potential presence of Cereulide, a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
Cereulide is heat-resistant. Unlike most bacteria, it cannot be destroyed by boiling water, steaming, or the standard methods used to prepare baby bottles.
Hence, consumption can lead to severe vomiting, nausea, and abdominal cramps within 1 to 5 hours.6 In infants, this poses a high risk of rapid dehydration.
Nestlé traced the contamination to arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, a key ingredient sourced from an external supplier in the Netherlands, used to replicate fatty acids found in breast milk.
At least 37 to 50 countries have now issued health warnings or active recalls. While no illnesses have been confirmed yet, the scale is unprecedented:
| Region | Primary Countries Affected | Brands Involved |
| Africa | South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini | NAN Special Pro, NAN Pro |
| Americas | Brazil, Mexico, Argentina | SMA, NAN, Alfamino |
| Asia/Oceania | China, Hong Kong, Australia, Uzbekistan | NAN OptiPro, SMA, Alfaré Amino |
| Europe | UK, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria | SMA Advanced, BEBA, Guigoz, Nidal |
Nestlé has confirmed that products distributed in Canada are currently not affected. The status of U.S. batches is still under review by the FDA.
In South Africa, the National Consumer Commission (NCC) specifically flagged NAN Special Pro (Batch 51660742F3), manufactured in June 2025.
Parents are urged to stop using the formula immediately if the batch number matches the recall list. This can be checked at the base of the tin or the side/top of the outer packaging for ready-to-feed liquids.
It can also be verified online by visiting the official Nestlé or local food safety website (e.g., food.gov.uk for the UK or smahcp.co.uk).
It is advised not to dispose but keep the tin and take a photo of the batch code to secure a full refund through Nestlé’s local carelines.
The timing is a blow to Nestlé’s new CEO, Philipp Navratil, who took over in late 2025 following a period of management upheaval.
Consequently, Nestlé shares fell 5.7% this week as investors fretted over the cost of the recall and potential long-term damage to the company’s 25% share of the global infant nutrition market.
The company is currently activating alternative ARA oil suppliers and ramping up production at unaffected factories to prevent a global formula shortage.
“The safety of babies is our absolute priority. We are taking this action out of an abundance of caution and sincerely apologize for the concern this causes parents.” – Nestlé Official Statement.
