French prosecutors have opened investigations into five major baby formula manufacturers following a wave of mass recalls triggered by concerns that infant products may have been contaminated with cereulide, a dangerous bacterial toxin linked to food poisoning.
The companies under investigation include:
Authorities will examine whether any criminal wrongdoing occurred in the distribution of baby formula suspected of containing the toxin.
The investigation comes after French authorities received complaints from eight individuals, who reported that their children experienced vomiting after consuming baby formula.
In the United Kingdom, officials have confirmed that at least 36 infants have suffered symptoms consistent with suspected food poisoning after consuming recalled formula products.
The incident has raised alarm across Europe and beyond, given the essential nature of infant formula for newborn nutrition.
Cereulide is a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
Food safety experts warn that cereulide poses a unique risk because:
If ingested, cereulide can cause:
Given infants’ vulnerability, even low-level exposure is considered a serious health concern.
Investigators have traced the contamination source to an ingredient known as:
ARA is commonly added to infant formula to provide growth benefits similar to those found in breast milk.
The UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) stated earlier that the contamination originated from a third-party supplier of ARA oil, which is no longer being used.
The supplier is widely believed to be Cabio Biotech, a Wuhan-based Chinese firm identified by Agence France-Presse. The BBC has approached the company for comment.
In response to the growing international crisis, China’s national market regulator has instructed domestic baby formula manufacturers to begin testing for cereulide contamination, although no specific companies were named.
This highlights the expanding global scope of the issue and the importance of ingredient traceability in international supply chains.
French prosecutors will now seek to establish whether the manufacturers may be legally responsible for distributing contaminated products.
The Paris-led investigation will also coordinate with local probes examining whether there is any causal link between contaminated formula and the deaths of three babies in France.
However, both Nestlé and France’s health ministry have emphasized that there is currently no confirmed evidence linking the recalled products directly to these deaths.
So far, 28 batches of baby formula manufactured by Nestlé and Danone have been recalled globally.
Major brands impacted include:
The recalls span more than 60 countries, including the UK, making it one of the most significant infant formula safety incidents in recent years.
Danone and Nestlé have assured the UK FSA that the recalled batches were produced some time ago and are unlikely to remain on store shelves.
However, officials warn that products may still be stored in households, prompting urgent calls for parents and caregivers to:
Nestlé also announced plans to run five factories continuously to increase production and meet demand following the recall.
The factories are located in:
Nestlé stated:
“We are focused on increasing the availability of infant formula to meet demand, providing parents and families with high quality products they can trust.”
The incident has reignited debate over:
With criminal probes now underway, the case may set a precedent for how food safety failures in essential infant products are handled globally.
As France intensifies investigations into leading baby formula manufacturers, parents, regulators, and health authorities worldwide are watching closely.
The unfolding crisis underscores a critical reality: when it comes to infant food, even minor contamination can have serious consequences — making transparency, strict compliance, and rapid regulatory action essential.