Parents across the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and Ireland have been issued urgent warnings following the recall of thirteen baby formula products. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has extended the recall to include additional batches, highlighting serious health risks associated with these items.
Critical Health Alert for Parents
The recall affects various infant milk products from major brands including Nestle, Aptamil and SMA. In a statement released on Wednesday, February 4th, the FSA confirmed that one additional batch has been included in this updated recall notice, specifically affecting distribution within Northern Ireland.
Understanding the Contamination Risk
The primary concern revolves around the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus bacteria. This substance poses significant health risks to infants who consume contaminated formula.
Key characteristics of cereulide include:
- High heat stability - meaning it cannot be deactivated through boiling water or normal preparation methods
- Rapid onset of symptoms following consumption
- Potential to cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps
Immediate Action Required
The FSA has issued clear guidance for parents who may have purchased any of the affected products. Even if no immediate symptoms have been observed in infants, it is essential to stop using these formulas immediately.
Important advice from health authorities:
- Cease using any recalled products immediately
- Consult with a pharmacist or medical professional before changing formula, especially if it was prescribed
- Monitor infants for any signs of illness
- Return affected products to the place of purchase
Affected Products and Batch Numbers
The recall encompasses multiple product lines across different regions. Below is a comprehensive list of the affected items and their corresponding batch codes.
United Kingdom Recall List
Aptamil Products:
- Aptamil (800g) with best before date 31-10-2026
SMA Products:
- SMA Advanced First Infant Milk 800g - batch codes: 51450742F1, 52319722BA, 52819722AA
- SMA Advanced Follow-on Milk 800g - batch codes: 51240742F2, 51890742F2, 52879722AA
- SMA First Infant Milk 800g - multiple batch codes including 51170346AA, 52760346AB
- SMA First Infant Milk 400g - batch codes: 51350346AA, 52750346AD
- SMA First Infant Milk 1.2Kg - batch codes: 51340346BE, 52740346BA, 52750346BA
- SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk 800g - batch codes: 51220346AD, 51540346AC, 52740346AD
- SMA Comfort 800g - multiple batch codes including 52620742F3, 51479722BA
- SMA First Infant Milk 200ml - multiple batch codes including 52860295M, 53030295M
- SMA First Infant Milk 70ml - batch code: 53170742B1
- SMA Lactose Free 400g - multiple batch codes including 51150346AB, 53459722BA
- SMA Anti Reflux 800g - batch codes: 51570742F3, 52739722BA
ALFAMINO Product:
- ALFAMINO 400g - multiple batch codes including 51200017Y3, 53150017Y1
Northern Ireland Specific Recall
The latest addition to the recall affects SMA First Infant Milk 800g with the following batch codes:
- 51590346AB
- 52750346AE
- 53390346AB
Ireland Recall List
Affected products in Ireland include:
- SMA Advanced First Infant Milk 800g - batch code: 51450742F1
- SMA Advanced Follow on Milk 800g - batch codes: 51240742F2, 51890742F2
- SMA Comfort 800g - batch code: 52620742F3
- SMA First Infant Milk 200ml - multiple batch codes including 53070295M, 53220295M
- SMA First Infant Milk 800g - batch codes: 51590346AB, 52750346AE
- SMA GOLD PREM 2 800g - batch code: 53090742F2
- SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk 800g - batch code: 51540346AD
- SMA Alfamino 400g - batch codes: 51200017Y3, 51710017Y1
Ongoing Monitoring and Updates
The Food Standards Agency continues to monitor the situation closely and advises parents to remain vigilant. Regular updates will be provided through official channels as the investigation progresses and further information becomes available.
Parents are encouraged to check their baby formula products carefully against the listed batch codes and take immediate action if they possess any affected items. The health and safety of infants remains the paramount concern in this widespread product recall.
