European health and food safety agencies assess the risk of exposure to contaminated baby formula as low following Europe-wide recalls and ongoing investigations.
After the Europe-wide recall of baby formula, the risk of exposure to contaminated formula is now low, concluded a joint assessment by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority on Thursday.
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The potential health impact is assessed as low to moderate, depending on the child's age, the agencies said.
Most of the affected children have experienced mild gastrointestinal symptoms and have recovered. However, some were hospitalised due to dehydration, to which babies under six months of age are more vulnerable.
However, the agencies said, investigating and linking cases in this situation is challenging due to limitations in surveillance and the limited possibilities to analyse stool samples for cereulide toxin.
Experts also noted that symptoms of cereulide intoxication, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea, closely resemble common viral gastrointestinal infections, which are widespread in Europe during the winter season.
What countries were affected?
The first intoxication cases were reported in December 2025 and continued until mid-February 2026.
At least 26 babies were hospitalised across Europe due to suspected cereulide intoxication from recalled baby formula; they have all been discharged after treatment.
Austria reported four babies who developed gastrointestinal symptoms shortly after consuming infant formula. The children, aged between 0 and 11 months of age, fell ill between 26 January and 6 February 2026, and one child was hospitalised.
Belgium reported eight babies who tested positive based on clinical samples. All eight had consumed the recalled infant formula and experienced favourable clinical outcomes.
The food safety authority in Denmark has been contacted by parents of approximately 32 cases who developed gastrointestinal symptoms after the recall was initiated in December 2025.
France reported 11 infants who were hospitalised; all of them have recovered and have returned home.
France is investigating the death of three babies, possibly linked to the consumption of Nestlé's recalled formula, though no connection has been confirmed.
Luxembourg reported three infants who were examined, two of whom were hospitalised for dehydration and have fully recovered.
Spain reported 41 cases with gastrointestinal symptoms, all of whom had a history of consuming recalled products; 13 were hospitalised and have been discharged.
The United Kingdom reported 44 babies with gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming formula.
The latest contamination reported to the ECDC was on 6 February 2026.
After the first reports, several dairy companies have recalled batches of formula worldwide. The contamination was traced to the bacteria Bacillus cereus in arachidonic acid (ARA) oil from a single Chinese supplier used in premium products.
Investigations into the source of the contamination continue in seven countries – Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
The French Public Prosecutor's Office opened a probe against five dairy firms, Nestlé, Lactalis, Lidl's Milbona, Alprosoya, and HiPP, for potential criminal liability in distributing contaminated products.
