Nestlé issues worldwide recall on contaminated baby formula

SWISS food and drink giant Nestlé has recalled a series of products for infants in several European countries including Spain due to the possible presence of the Bacillus cereus bacteria, according to a report released by the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) on Monday, January 5. This has been called one of the largest product recall campaigns in Nestlé’s corporate history.

What is the problem?

The recalled baby formula has been found to be contaminated with the Bacillus cereus bacteria. This bacteria can produce a toxin called cereulide, which can cause severe nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, or diarrhea when consumed. These food poisoning symptoms can be quick to develop and the bacteria are unlikely to be destroyed by cooking the product (including using boiling water to make the milk). 

The problem, according to the company, was caused by an ingredient provided by one of the suppliers.

Global recall is primarily preventative; other products safe to consume

Nestlé has stated that the recall is preventative and that there have yet been no cases of babies getting ill from consuming the formula. According to the company, the recall is global, and affected products have been sold in several European countries, including France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy and Sweden.

Nestlé stresses that other products that have not been listed in the recall are safe to consume and has offered refunds to those who have purchased affected products.

What products are affected in Spain?

The list of recalled Nestlé products in Spain include:

• Alfamino 400g Can; Alfamino Junior 400g Can
• NAN AR 800g Can
• NAN AR Sachet
• NAN TOTAL COMFORT 1 800g Can
• NAN TOTAL COMFORT 1 Sachet
• NAN TOTAL COMFORT 2 800g Can
• NAN OPTIPRO 1 800g Can
• NAN OPTIPRO 1 1200g Box
• NAN SUPREMEPRO 1 Can 800g
• NAN SUPREMEPRO 2 Can 800g
• NAN SUPREMEPRO 2 Envelope
• NATIVE 1 Can 800g
• NIDINA 1 Can 800g
• NIDINA COMFORT DIGEST Can 800g
• NIDINA COMFORT DIGEST 1 Can 800g

What products are affected in the UK?

The list of recalled Nestlé products in the UK include:

• SMA Advanced First Infant Milk 800g
• SMA Advanced Follow-on Milk 800g
• SMA First Infant Milk 800g
• SMA First Infant Milk 400g
• SMA First Infant Milk 1.2Kg
• SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk 800g
• SMA Comfort 800g
• SMA First Infant Milk 200ml
• SMA First Infant Milk 70ml
• SMA Lactose Free 400g 
• SMA Anti Reflux 800g
• ALFAMINO 400g

AESAN warns that anyone with the listed products in their home should refrain from consuming them and keep them out of reach of children.

How to check lot and batch numbers for affected products

Concerned parents or guardians can also double-check the lot number of their products and confirm if they are safe to consume through Nestle’s official website. Customers can look for the corresponding code on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas or the base of the outer box and on the side or top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.

It is notable that in some countries, the affected products go under different names. For example, in other European countries, the affected products are named Beba and Alfamino. In the UK, the recalled products are known as SMA. Consumers should keep this fact in mind when double-checking formula batches and throw away or return any products suspected to be affected.

Consumers can also stay on top of new health alerts, warnings, and advice by following the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition, or AESAN on its official website.

What to do if your baby has consumed an affected product

If your baby has consumed one of the affected products and is showing symptoms, parents or guardians should immediately go to a healthcare centre with the relevant information, including the lot or batch number or pictures of the product.

Though the levels of the bacteria discovered in the product are very low and unlikely to pose a danger, consumers should keep an eye on their baby if they have consumed the product and take immediate action by getting to a healthcare centre if something seems off.

Additionally, consumers are recommended to:

• Revise expiration dates before purchasing a product.
• Keep receipts or digital purchase history for products in case of recall.
• Avoid taste-testing a suspicious product “just to be sure.”
• Return or bin the product if in doubt.

Recent AESAN health alerts; consumers should stay informed

Less than one month ago, on Monday, December 15, AESAN had issued an alert to consumers warning them of the presence of the bacteria in Nestlé’s Nidina 1 powdered milk baby formula. AESAN has also recently alerted the public to various other products with potentially harmful presences inside them in December and late November 2025, namely batches of Fuente Madre bottled water, Snatt’s Tomato and Oregano Bites, and cold‑cut meat products sold by the brands Nuestra Alacena (DIA) and Serrano.

“The safety and wellbeing of your baby is our top priority,” states Nestlé on its website. “We have detected the possible presence of cereulide in some specific batches of formula, so we have decided to voluntarily recall them as a preventative measure.”

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