Foodstuffs Nestlé already detected cereulide in factory at the end of November
At the end of November, the food giant Nestlé detected the recently much-discussed toxin cereulide in infant formula at a baby milk factory in the Netherlands. This can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
30.01.2026, 12:51
SDA
It took several weeks for the company to identify the original source. "At the end of November 2025, we detected very small quantities of cereulide in product samples as part of routine checks following the installation of new equipment on a production line at our factory in the Netherlands," explained the French-speaking Swiss company in a chronology of events published on Friday night.
Production on the affected line was subsequently halted. On December 10, Nestlé informed the Dutch authorities as well as 16 potentially affected country markets and the EU Commission.
In the course of the further investigation, Nestlé realized that the contamination did not originate from the production plant in the Netherlands, but from oil sourced from a third party. Nestlé had processed this oil in Switzerland and distributed it as a mixture to its plants worldwide.
Oil from 2025 contaminated
According to Nestlé, the initial analysis results from its own laboratories on December 23 confirmed that the oil mixture supplied was the source of the contamination. Nestlé was able to narrow down the contamination to oil deliveries in 2025. According to tests, deliveries from earlier years were apparently not affected.
This information was confirmed on December 29. This made it clear that it was not just a problem for Nestlé but for the entire industry that worked with the supplier in question.
Nestlé then informed the supplier, the authorities and the industry. From January 2, Nestlé informed the authorities in around 60 countries and the affected batches of infant formula were gradually recalled publicly.
Other manufacturers also affected
Other baby food manufacturers such as the French company Danone and the Swiss food manufacturer Hochdorf also recalled certain products because they worked with the same supplier. However, some of the recalls only took place two to three weeks later. The reasons for this are unclear.
The French newspaper "Le Monde" contradicts Nestlé's account. The timetable given by the company is not correct, the newspaper claimed on Friday.
According to a "high-ranking source", the oil enriched with arachidonic acid was already known to Nestlé as the source of the contamination on December 10, which was immediately reported to the authorities.
