Noora Mykkanen
Published January 30, 2026 5:05pm
Updated January 30, 2026 7:22pm
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The toxin found in some batches contained a toxin which causes nausea, vomiting and cramps if eaten (Picture: Shutterstock / New Africa)
A widely sold baby formula recalled this month was contaminated with a toxic chemical, the food safety watchdog confirmed.
Shoppers were issued an urgent safety recall earlier this month after fears that a Nestle baby formula contained a toxin.
Nestle recalled batches of the infant formula SMA and the follow-on formula over concerns that they contained cereulide toxin.
It can cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps if eaten.
The SMA baby formula products included in the recall (see full list below) (Picture: Nestle)
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Now the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that the affected ingredient in SMA products was arachidonic acid (ARA) oil inside.
The ingredient is added to the formula to support infant development and to make sure babies who feed from a bottle receive it as well.
Jodie Wild, the head of incidents unit at the FSA, said: ‘Ongoing investigations have identified that the contamination originated from a shared, third-party, ingredient supplier.
‘The affected ingredient is an oil called arachidonic acid (ARA).
‘We are urgently tracing all products that may have used ingredients from this supplier to make sure any affected products are removed from sale.’
On January 23, Danone also urgently recalled a batch of Aptamil baby formula over a cereulide concern.
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The FSA said that only one batch sold in the UK was affected, but additional batches sold abroad were also affected.
The contamination of the Nestle and Danone formula originated from a shared, third-party ingredient supplier, according to PA news agency.
Ms Wild said: ‘Both recalls are due to the presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause vomiting and nausea. If further recalls are needed, we will announce them immediately.
What Nestle SMA products are recalled?
Here are all the Nestle products included in the recall:
- SMA Advanced First Infant Milk
- SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk
- SMA Anti Reflux
- SMA Alfamino
- SMA First Infant Milk
- SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk
- SMA Comfort
- SMA Lactose Free
Advice for parents
Parents or guardians should stop using the affected products and switch to another product, and contact a GP or NHS 111 if their baby has already consumed the product.
If the formula is prescribed, they should speak to a pharmacist or doctor before switching, the watchdog said.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].
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