Swiss food giant Nestlé has acknowledged that it waited several days for a health-risk assessment before alerting authorities after detecting a toxin in baby milk produced at its factory in the Netherlands.
The company recalled batches of its infant formula across 16 European countries in December after tests detected cereulide a bacterial toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea.
According to a report by French newspaper Le Monde, traces of the toxin were first identified in late November, roughly 10 days before the initial recall, as the company conducted further analysis before notifying regulators.
In a statement, Nestlé said routine checks at the end of November 2025 revealed “very low levels” of cereulide following the installation of new equipment at the plant. The company noted that there is currently no regulatory maximum limit for the toxin.
Production was immediately halted and additional testing was carried out. By early December, small quantities of cereulide were confirmed in products that had not yet been distributed. Nestlé said it informed Dutch, European and other national authorities on December 10 and launched a precautionary recall of 25 batches produced since the equipment upgrade.
The company has maintained that the recall was prompted by a “quality issue” and said it has found no evidence linking its products to illness.
Meanwhile, French authorities have opened an investigation into the deaths of two babies in December and January who were believed to have consumed possibly contaminated powdered milk. Nestlé said there is “nothing” to suggest a connection between its products and the fatalities.
The incident has renewed questions about food safety protocols and the timing of corporate disclosures in cases involving infant nutrition products.