Do not use this baby formula, authority warns
Food Safety Authority flags potential toxin contamination that can cause food poisoning
The Food Safety and Security Authority has issued a warning about a batch of baby formula over the possible presence of toxins.
The authority has warned parents not to feed their babies Cow & Gate Hungry First Infant Milk from Birth, sold in 800g containers with a best-before date of September 22, 2026.
In a statement on Saturday, the authority said the formula might contain the toxin cereulide making it “unsafe for consumption”.
“Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus. It is highly heat stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water, or when making the infant milk,” the authority said.
“If consumed, it can lead to rapid onset of food poisoning symptoms. Symptoms caused by this toxin may include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.”
This is the latest in a series of recalls for baby formula brands this year. In February, 11 types of infant formulas from the brands Aptamil, Cow & Gate, and Bebelac were recalled because of potential contamination from cereulide.
This followed similar warnings published by major manufacturers of infant formula, including Nestlé and Danone which issued a raft of recalls across Europe over cereulide fears.
The authority advised consumers to either throw away the product or return it to the store from where it was bought.