LONDON / ZURICH, January 6, 2026 – Nestlé (NESN.S) has announced a recall of certain batches of its infant formula products, including SMA, BEBA, and NAN brands, across 25 countries, mainly in Europe, over the potential presence of a toxin called cereulide, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

The recall, which initially began on a smaller scale in December 2025, marks one of the largest in the company’s history and adds pressure on CEO Philipp Navratil, who is overseeing a portfolio review aimed at boosting growth after management changes.

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No Illnesses Reported, But Precautionary Measures Underway

Nestlé confirmed no illnesses have been linked to the recalled products. The recall follows the detection of a quality issue in an ingredient from a key supplier. In response, Nestlé conducted testing of all arachidonic acid oil and related mixes used in potentially impacted products.

Affected products are being recalled, and the company is activating alternative suppliers, increasing production at several factories, and accelerating distribution of unaffected products to maintain supply.

“Cereulide … can cause food poisoning symptoms which can be quick to develop and include vomiting and stomach cramps,” said Jane Rawling, head of incidents at Britain’s Food Standards Agency (FSA). She noted that the toxin is unlikely to be destroyed by boiling water or standard preparation of infant milk.

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Scale of the Recall

Austria’s health ministry described the recall as the largest in Nestlé’s history, affecting more than 800 products from over 10 factories. Nestlé identified the potential risk at a factory in the Netherlands, but testing revealed the contaminated raw material had been used across multiple sites, including outside the country.

The recall also covers products sold in Turkey and Argentina. Nestlé has published batch numbers to help consumers identify affected products and emphasized efforts to minimize supply disruption.

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Market Impact

Nestlé controls almost 25% of the $92.2 billion global infant nutrition market. Infant formula sales fall under its Nutrition and Health Science division, which contributed 16.6% of total sales of 91.4 billion Swiss francs ($115.4 billion) in 2024.

The company’s shares fell over 3% in the two sessions following the recall announcement, reflecting investor concerns over potential disruption and reputational impact.

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Conclusion

The Nestlé infant formula recall is one of the largest in the company’s history, affecting millions of products across Europe and beyond. While no illnesses have been reported, the precautionary recall highlights the critical importance of supplier oversight, quality control, and rapid response in infant nutrition. Parents are advised to check batch numbers and avoid using affected products.