The Belgian government is investigating reports of infants falling ill after consuming contaminated Nestlé baby formula, which has led to a massive global recall. The Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain is examining around 20 cases of babies who showed symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea after consuming the recalled products. However, officials believe that the true scale of the issue may be much larger, as doctors are not required to test for the specific cereulide toxin that is causing the contamination.
The toxin, which is produced by a type of bacteria, can cause nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea in infants, with symptoms appearing within 30 minutes to six hours after ingestion. The lack of mandatory testing for the toxin means that confirmed cases are likely an underestimation of the actual impact. The first confirmed case in Flanders was reported in January, and the baby recovered after about ten days of illness.
The contamination has been traced to a single supplier of a key ingredient in premium infant formulas, which has turned a company-specific issue into an industry-wide scandal. Other major manufacturers, such as Danone and Lactalis, have also recalled their products, and the recall now spans over 60 countries across the globe. The CEO of Nestlé has described the recall as the “largest preventive recall in Nestlé’s history”.
The situation has triggered significant legal and regulatory responses, including a criminal complaint filed by a consumer group in France against several formula manufacturers, alleging endangerment of infant health and failure to execute timely recalls. French prosecutors are also investigating the deaths of two infants who consumed recalled formula, although no direct causal link has been established. In response to the scandal, France has tightened its safety threshold for cereulide, which has been mirrored by the European Food Safety Authority to guide future market withdrawals.
Authorities and consumer advocates are urging parents to immediately stop using any recalled products and seek medical advice if their infant shows symptoms. Consumer groups are also advising families not to discard product packaging or remaining formula, as these may be crucial evidence for ongoing investigations and potential legal proceedings. The scandal highlights the importance of robust, independent food safety controls and traceability to protect vulnerable citizens from global supply chain failures.