Thirty-Six UK Children Fall Ill with Symptoms Linked to Recalled Baby Formula Contaminated with Cereulide
UK Health Security Agency reports dozens of clinical cases of toxin poisoning after infants consumed batches of recalled Nestlé and Danone formula
Health authorities in the United Kingdom are investigating multiple cases of children exhibiting symptoms consistent with toxin poisoning after consuming batches of baby formula that were subject to recent recalls.
The UK Health Security Agency said it and partner agencies have received thirty-six clinical notifications of young children developing symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea after consuming formula from implicated batches of Nestlé’s SMA Infant and Follow-On Formula products and a recalled batch of Danone’s Aptamil First Infant Formula.
Clinical reports span the UK, with twenty-four cases in England, seven in Scotland, three in Wales, one in Northern Ireland and one from the Crown Dependencies.
The cases appeared after the Food Standards Agency first announced a precautionary recall on January 5 of several dozen batches of Nestlé’s products due to the possible presence of the heat-resistant cereulide toxin, which is produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus bacterium.
The recall was updated on January 9, and Danone issued its own recall of one batch on January 24 after similar contamination concerns.
Cereulide cannot be destroyed by boiling and can cause rapid onset of symptoms within minutes to a few hours of ingestion.
While symptoms typically resolve within about a day if further exposure is prevented, health officials note that very young children and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to complications.
The UKHSA is continuing to monitor the situation and urges parents and caregivers to check and remove any recalled products from their homes immediately.
The Food Standards Agency has advised anyone whose child has consumed affected formula and is unwell to contact a healthcare professional for guidance.
The UK Health Security Agency said it and partner agencies have received thirty-six clinical notifications of young children developing symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal cramps and diarrhoea after consuming formula from implicated batches of Nestlé’s SMA Infant and Follow-On Formula products and a recalled batch of Danone’s Aptamil First Infant Formula.
Clinical reports span the UK, with twenty-four cases in England, seven in Scotland, three in Wales, one in Northern Ireland and one from the Crown Dependencies.
The cases appeared after the Food Standards Agency first announced a precautionary recall on January 5 of several dozen batches of Nestlé’s products due to the possible presence of the heat-resistant cereulide toxin, which is produced by certain strains of the Bacillus cereus bacterium.
The recall was updated on January 9, and Danone issued its own recall of one batch on January 24 after similar contamination concerns.
Cereulide cannot be destroyed by boiling and can cause rapid onset of symptoms within minutes to a few hours of ingestion.
While symptoms typically resolve within about a day if further exposure is prevented, health officials note that very young children and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to complications.
The UKHSA is continuing to monitor the situation and urges parents and caregivers to check and remove any recalled products from their homes immediately.
The Food Standards Agency has advised anyone whose child has consumed affected formula and is unwell to contact a healthcare professional for guidance.
