Aptamil Baby Formula Recalled Over Toxin Contamination Concerns

Parents are being urged to immediately check their supplies of Aptamil First Infant Formula following a recall issued by Danone due to concerns over a potentially dangerous toxin. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has confirmed that a single batch, distributed across the UK, may contain cereulide—a toxin produced by the bacteria Bacillus cereus that can cause rapid-onset vomiting and stomach cramps.

The affected product is Aptamil First Infant Formula in the 800g size, batch number 31-10-2026, with a best-before date of October 31, 2026. The FSA advises parents and caregivers not to feed this batch to infants or young children. Anyone who has already given this formula to a baby and is concerned about health effects should consult a healthcare professional, either contacting their GP or calling NHS 111.

Retailer Boots has also issued a notice, confirming that affected batches sold between May and July 2025 can be returned to stores for a full refund, whether or not a receipt is available. The recall applies only to this specific batch; no other Aptamil formula batches are impacted.

This recall follows a similar withdrawal by Nestlé of certain SMA baby formula products after detecting the same cereulide toxin linked to an ingredient supplied by a third party. Nestlé has voluntarily recalled several batches of its SMA infant formulas, including SMA Advanced First Infant Milk and SMA Follow-On Milk, among others.

Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the FSA, reassured families that urgent steps are underway to remove all affected products from sale and stressed the importance of following the recall advice. Both Danone and Nestlé have emphasized that no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with these products, but caution remains paramount for infant health.

Parents and caregivers should remain vigilant and comply with all recall instructions to ensure their baby’s safety.