Infant Formula Recall: Is Trying To Copy Breastmilk Increasing Risk Of Contamination?

(MENAFN- Swissinfo) A contaminated additive found naturally in breastmilk is responsible for the recent recall of infant formula worldwide. Select your language

Generated with artificial intelligence. Listening: Infant formula recall: Is trying to copy breastmilk increasing risk of contamination? This content was published on February 25, 2026 - 08:54 9 minutes

I cover food and agribusiness and have a special interest in sustainable supply chains, food safety and quality, as well emerging players and trends in the food industry. A background in forestry and conservation biology led me down the path of environmental advocacy. Journalism and Switzerland made me a neutral observer who holds companies accountable for their actions.

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中文 zh 婴儿奶粉全球召回:污染源来自中国,是巧合吗? Read more: 婴儿奶粉全球召回:污染源来自中国,

An unprecedented spate of recalls worldwide of infant formula produced by food companies like Nestlé, Danone, Lactalis and others have set alarm bells ringing. The cause of the recall is the detection of cereulide – a toxin produced by the bacteria Bacillus cereus. Cereulide ingestion can cause vomiting and stomach cramps.

Some 60 countries are affected and an estimated 100 children in Europe (up to 36 in Switzerland alone) have shown symptoms consistent with cereulide contamination. The toxin was found in a supplement called arachidonic acid (ARA) oil commonly added to infant formula. The French agriculture ministry has identified Chinese company Cabio Biotech as the supplier of the contaminated ARA oil used by several infant formula manufacturers.

On February 9, the Swiss Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office stated that batches of infant formula of the brands BEBA, Alfamino, Bimbosan, Aptamil, and Babybio brands sold by Nestle, Hochdorf Swiss Nutrition, Rossmann, Danone, and local supermarket Migros were affected.

Nestlé claims that the cost of the global recall will be below 0.5% of revenue but analysts from US investment bank Jeffries forecast the impact at 1.3% of revenue (around CHF1.2 billion, or $1.54 billion) while Barclays pegs it at between 0.8% to 1.5%. Shares of the Swiss company have fallen by as much as 4.6% since the recall was announced.

The recall comes as manufacturers have been adding ingredients to infant formula in a bid to better imitate breast milk. International guidelines and health regulators like the US Food and Drug Administration now list around 30 required ingredients in infant formula. As the supply chain becomes more complex, is it harder for companies to keep it safe?

What is ARA and why is it added to infant formula?

ARA is naturally found in breastmilk, but infant formulas add a synthesised version produced from a soil fungus. The long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (a member of the omega-6 fatty acid family) plays an important role in brain development in infants and is usually paired in formulas with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) that is made from fish oil.

Research has shown that breast-fed infants had higher levels of ARA and DHA in their blood than those fed by formula. This is because infant formulas of the past did not have ARA or DHA in them. They were fortified with the two essential fatty acids linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid that the body then transforms into ARA and DHA respectively. However, this conversion is not optimal in infants. This is why infant formula manufacturers have been adding ARA and DHA since 2001 in the US and much earlier in Europe. Both ARA and DHA are listed as optional ingredients for infant formula in the Codex Alimentarius, a set of international guidelines aimed at harmonising food safety regulations around the globe. However, the European Union made it mandatory to include DHA in infant formula from February 2020, but the addition of ARA is still optional. This also applies to Switzerland.

How was the infant formula contamination detected?

Food giant Nestlé claims it was the first manufacturer to identify the contamination and make the information public. According to the Swiss multinational, very low levels of cereulide was detected in early November 2025 in samples during routine checks following the installation of new equipment in its Netherlands factory.

The company said it halted production immediately and sent samples for in-depth laboratory analysis. The test results obtained in early December 2025 confirmed traces of cereulide in batches of infant formula.

Just before Christmas, Nestlé was able to link cereulide to an oil blend containing ARA that was used to produce infant formula in several of its factories. Nestlé informed the rest of the industry on December 30, 2025 via trade associations given that many companies making infant formula relied on ARA from the same supplier.

Nestlé has discontinued sourcing ARA from Wuhan-based Cabio Biotech.

“Our suppliers are continuously audited and certified by independent third-party bodies that assess their manufacturing practices and food safety management systems in place. At ingredient level, we also conduct specific laboratory analysis at Nestlé to ensure the ingredients comply with the level established in the regulation,” a Nestlé spokesperson told Swissinfo.

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