Nestlé Recalls Baby Formula in South Africa After Toxin Concerns

The recall was confirmed on Wednesday, 7 January 2026, by the National Consumer Commission (NCC), which urged parents and caregivers to return affected products to the point of purchase for a full refund.

Affected Batch and Nestlé Recall Details

The batch in question was manufactured on 15 June 2025, has a best-before date of 15 December 2026 and was distributed across South Africa, Namibia and Eswatini. It carries the batch number 51660742F3 and is intended for infants aged zero to twelve months. 

In a statement to BabyYumYum, Nestlé South Africa said: “If you have NAN Special Pro HA 0–12 800 g tin with batch 51660742F3, please contact our Consumer Services (South Africa): +27 86 009 6116. Our team will advise on the appropriate next steps and support you with any questions.” 

No Illnesses Have Been Confirmed

On 7 January, Nestlé’s official global website released a statement. The Swiss food giant explained the background to the recall, citing a quality issue with an ingredient supplied by one of its major partners.

The company said: “Following the detection of a quality issue with an ingredient provided by a leading supplier, Nestlé has undertaken testing of all arachidonic acid (ARA) oil and corresponding oil mixes used in the production of its potentially affected infant nutrition products.

Nestlé further emphasised that the recall is precautionary and that no illnesses have been reported to date.

“No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the products involved to date.”

It also explained that symptoms to look out for are severe or persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or unusual lethargy. These would typically appear between 30 minutes to six hours after any exposure.

“Nestlé assures parents and caregivers that it is implementing appropriate actions to help ensure the health and wellbeing of families and their babies. At the same time, we are working to minimise any potential supply disruption,” the company said.

What Is Cereulide?

The NCC confirmed that the Nestlé recall was triggered by the identification of cereulide in the ingredient mix. Cereulide is a bacterial toxin that can cause foodborne illness, typically presenting as nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps within hours of exposure.

Nestlé acknowledged this in its advisory, saying: “Cereulide is a substance of bacterial origin that causes foodborne illness and is created by certain strains of the microorganism, Bacillus cereus. The presence of cereulide in oils is very uncommon, and Nestlé is working with the oil supplier, who is conducting a full root-cause analysis.”

Impact on Families and Global Context

The Nestle recall in South Africa forms part of a wider global withdrawal of infant formula products, including SMA, BEBA, NAN and Alfamino ranges, across at least 37 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Nestlé confirmed that the batches involved represent less than 0.5% of its annual group sales, meaning the financial impact is expected to be limited.