Mastodawn

Nestlé recalls baby formula over food poisoning fears as parents urged to check products

The food giant confirmed that a number of batches of its SMA infant and follow‑on milks are not safe to feed to babies, after tests suggested they may contain the cereulide toxin — a substance that can trigger sudden vomiting, nausea and stomach cramps.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) said the recall is precautionary but serious, warning that the toxin can cause symptoms “quick to develop” if consumed.

Nestlé apologised to families and stressed that no illnesses have been reported so far, blaming the issue on a contaminated ingredient supplied by a major manufacturer.

FSA: “Do NOT feed these products to infants”

Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, urged parents and carers to stop using the affected formulas immediately.

She said:

“Parents, guardians and caregivers should not feed infants or young children with these products. Cereulide is a toxin produced by food poisoning bacteria and can cause vomiting and stomach cramps.”

The FSA said it is working with retailers to ensure all affected stock is removed from sale.

Anyone worried about a child who has consumed the formula is advised to contact their GP or call NHS 111.

Which SMA products are affected?

Nestlé has recalled specific batches of the following SMA formulas:

SMA Advanced First Infant Milk
SMA Advanced Follow‑On Milk
SMA Anti‑Reflux
SMA Alfamino
SMA First Infant Milk
SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk
SMA Comfort
SMA Lactose Free

Full batch details are available on food.gov.uk and the Nestlé website.

Nestlé: “No confirmed illnesses – recall is precautionary”

In a statement, Nestlé said the issue was linked to a quality problem with a supplier ingredient and that it had tested all relevant oil mixes used in production.

The company said:

“No illnesses have been confirmed. As a precautionary measure, we are voluntarily recalling specific batches of SMA infant formula and follow‑on formula.”

Nestlé added that it is working to protect families, minimise supply disruption, and keep parents fully informed.

#babyMilk #cereulideToxin #foodDrink #foodPoisoning #FoodStandardsAgency #FSA #Nestle #SMABabyFormula #SMAMilk

Richard Quinn Aug 26

"…a story that appeared in the #UK media in November 2020, Supermarket brands of honey are ‘bulked out with cheap sugar syrups made from rice and corn’ after which the #FoodStandardsAgency #FSA asked the #GovernmentChemist to investigate…

“The composition of #honey, a complex #naturalProduct, continues to challenge analytical methods attempting to determine its authenticity particularly in the face of sophisticated #adulteration…"

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/gc-team-publishes-scientific-papers-on-honey-authentication

#Adulteration #Authentication

GC team publishes scientific papers on honey authentication

The UK Government Chemist team has recently had two significant scientific papers published in Nature Portfolio Journal, npj-Science of Food, highlighting the increasing complexity of honey authentication

GOV.UK

Editor Jul 24, 2025

Swansea man ordered to repay £31,000 after illegal ‘smokie’ meat operation

A Swansea man has been ordered to pay back more than £31,000 in profits after being found guilty of illegally producing and selling “smokie” meat — a banned delicacy made from singed sheep or goat carcasses.

Ian Thomas, 46, of Gorseinon Road, Penllergaer, was handed the confiscation order at Isleworth Crown Court last month following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing brought by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and its National Food Crime Unit (NFCU).

Thomas was found to have played a key role in the slaughter, manufacture and distribution of smokies across England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, placing unsafe food on the market and breaching hygiene regulations.

What are smokies — and why are they banned?

Smokies are a traditional West African delicacy made by singeing the fleece off an unskinned sheep or goat carcass, giving the meat a golden-brown colour and smoky odour. However, the process is illegal in the UK due to serious public health risks, including potential contamination with E. coli and Salmonella.

Because smokies are typically produced in unapproved premises, they fall outside the UK’s strict food safety standards — and pose a risk to consumers and legitimate businesses alike.

“We will recover the profits”

David Williams, Senior Financial Investigator at the NFCU, said the case sends a clear message:

“We’re not just content to prosecute those who commit food crime — we will also pursue them to recover the profits they made and recoup taxpayers’ money spent on investigating and prosecuting them.”

“Food crime puts communities at risk and undermines legitimate business. We’re committed to disrupting and stopping the criminal element.”

The FSA says it has explored the possibility of safe, legal smokie production, but current regulations prevent it.

Anyone with concerns about food fraud or illegal meat production can report anonymously via Food Crime Confidential or call 0800 028 1180.

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#butcher #EColi #foodDrink #foodCrime #FoodStandardsAgency #FSA #GOAT #goatMeat #illegalMeat #NationalFoodCrimeUnit #NFCU #Penllergaer #publicHealth #Salmonella #smokieMeat #Swansea

Editor Jun 19, 2025

Food safety body says children under seven should not have Ice Slushies

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has endorsed advice that slush ice drinks containing glycerol are not suitable for children under seven.

Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid.

While glycerol is found in some other foods, it is added at much lower quantities than in slush ice drinks.

Consumed at high levels, glycerol can cause very low blood sugar levels and unconsciousness in young children.

Professor Susan Jebb, FSA Chair said: “In the warm weather, children may be more likely to consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol, so it’s important that parents and carers are aware of the risks.

“As a precaution, the FSA is recommending that children under seven do not consume slush ice drinks containing glycerol. With our counterparts in Scotland, we will be talking to parent groups and charities to provide updated guidance that is useful and applicable across the UK.

“We expect industry to share data on the quantity of glycerol in their products to inform our future work. Meanwhile, there are immediate actions they can take that can help protect children and reduce the risk from these products. For example, retailers should limit cup sizes and should not offer free refill promotions to children under 10.”

The latest FSA risk assessment on glycerol in slush ice drinks assessed the impact of one serving of slush ice drink (350ml with 50,000mg/L glycerol) on children with a lower-than-average body weight for their age.

Slush ice drinks can contain glycerol as a substitute for sugar to prevent them from freezing solid. Businesses are being advised to only add glycerol at the minimum quantity technically necessary to achieve the slush effect. 

#foodDrink #foodSafety #FoodStandardsAgency #FSA #IceSlush