the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) released Public Alert No. 08/2026 to warn members of the public, healthcare professionals, caregivers and other stakeholders on the precautionary recall of certain batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk formula from the manufacturer Danone Nutricia due to the potential presence of cereulide which is produced by Bacillus cereus. These batches were manufactured in Ireland and Hungary and have been distributed in the EU, UK and other third countries. NAFDAC clarified that Aptamil infant formula produced specifically for the Nigerian market is not affected and complies with Codex standards. [1]

Nigeria: Danone Nutricia Recalls Aptamil and Cow & Gate Infant Milk Formula Due to Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Recall July 28, 2026

Category of the Product: Food & Beverages – Infant Nutrition

Type of the Product: Infant Milk Formula and Follow-on Milk Formula

Reason for Announcement: Potential cereulide toxin contamination in selected Aptamil and Cow & Gate formula batches.

On 13 February 2026, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) released Public Alert No. 08/2026 to warn members of the public, healthcare professionals, caregivers and other stakeholders on the precautionary recall of certain batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk formula from the manufacturer Danone Nutricia due to the potential presence of cereulide which is produced by Bacillus cereus. These batches were manufactured in Ireland and Hungary and have been distributed in the EU, UK and other third countries. NAFDAC clarified that Aptamil infant formula produced specifically for the Nigerian market is not affected and complies with Codex standards. [1]

Reason for Warning

There is a possibility that the recalled products are contaminated with cereulide toxin, which is produced by Bacillus cereus. Exposure to cereulide toxin could lead to illness through food poisoning, characterized by nausea and vomiting. There is also the likelihood that there are increased health risks to infants and young children.

Root Cause Analysis

According to NAFDAC, indicates that the reason for the recall of the product was initiated by Danone Nutricia as a precautionary measure due to possible contamination with cereulide toxin on some batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant milk and follow-on formula products. These products were made in Ireland and Hungary and were sold internationally. The public alert is not related to any contamination process or manufacturing, packaging, supplier- related defect. [2]

H2 Product Description

Product Name	Pack Size	Affected Batch / Best Before	Distribution
Aptamil 1 From Birth First Infant Milk	800g	Expiry: 31-10-2026	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk	800g	Best Before: 9 Jul 2026 – 4 Dec 2026	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk	700g	Best Before: 22 Aug 2026 – 26 Nov 2026	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk	700g	Best Before: 31 Jul 2026 – 31 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk Big Pack	1.2kg	Best Before: 11 Jul 2026 – 20 Feb 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk Hungry	800g	Best Before: 31 Jul 2026 – 23 Feb 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk	600g	Best Before: 12 Aug 2026 – 16 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux	800g	Best Before: 7 Jun 2026 – 18 Feb 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk Big Pack	1.2kg	Best Before: 14 Aug 2026 – 25 Dec 2026	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk Hungry	800g	Best Before: 4 Jul 2026 – 24 Feb 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 1 First Infant Milk Pre-Measured Tabs	—	All dates up to and including 17 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 2 Follow-On Milk	800g	Best Before: 18 Jun 2026 – 4 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 2 Follow-On Milk	700g	Best Before: 5 Aug 2026 – 20 Feb 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 2 Follow-On Milk Big Pack	1.2kg	Best Before: 23 Jul 2026 – 13 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Aptamil 2 Follow-On Milk Pre-Measured Tabs	—	All dates up to and including 17 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries
Cow & Gate 1 First Infant Milk	800g	Best Before: 11 Jun 2026 – 25 Jan 2027	EU, UK & Third Countries

Note: NAFDAC stated that Aptamil infant formula produced specifically for the Nigerian market is not affected by this recall. [1]

Health Issue Identified

The possible contamination of the recalled products could be cereulide, which is a toxin produced by the bacteria named Bacillus cereus. As per the statement given by NAFDAC, cereulide toxin is harmful to the health of the individual who consumes it and may result in various illnesses or severe health effects.

Possible health effects could be:

Nausea
Vomiting
Gastro-intestinal disturbances
Growth and development issues
Other toxicological effects

Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to such health risks because of their under-developed immunity and digestion systems. [3]

Concerns from Regulatory Body

Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Key Regulatory Considerations

Protection of infant health and safety.
Recall of all affected batches of products.
Check on product registration before buying.
Surveillance of the recalled and illegally imported products.
Laboratory testing of the products stored in Nigerian warehouses.
Public communication and surveillance.

NAFDAC confirmed that Aptamil products registered for the Nigerian market remain safe for consumption and advised consumers to purchase only products from authorized sources.

Manufacturer and Consumer Guidance

For Consumers

Purchase Aptamil infant formula only from legitimate and authorized dealers.
Ensure that the NAFDAC registration number before purchasing.
Alert NAFDAC of suspected unregistered or illegally imported Aptamil products.
Report any adverse events to NAFDAC through its reporting platforms, Med Safety application, or Pharmacovigilance e-mail.

For Manufacturer (Danone Nutricia)

As per the NAFDAC announcement, Danone Nutricia has taken the following actions for this recall exercise:

Placed an advisory cautionary recall of the affected product batches.
Proactively stopped the affected product batches in its warehouses in Nigeria.
Conducted laboratory testing of the product. [4]

FRL Commentary

Even though the recall has been placed on a precautionary basis due to the possible presence of cereulide toxin, it signifies the importance of having efficient quality assurance and food safety management in manufacture of infant nutrition.

At Food Research Lab, some of the measures to prevent such events are:

Raw material quality assurance
Hazard identification and risk assessment
Manufacturing process validation
Product traceability
Supplier qualification
Quality management systems
Regulatory compliance & documentation

Strong quality control, traceability, and regulatory compliance are essential to ensure the safety of infant nutrition products and maintain consumer confidence.

Conclusion

The precautionary recall of Danone Nutricia demonstrates the necessity of precautionary food safety procedures and regulatory control to ensure the protection of infants’ health. Although the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control stated that only the Aptamil products designed for the Nigerian market have nothing to do with the recall, the recall stresses the importance of maintaining the quality and traceability of the products as well as regulatory compliance.

Food Research Lab provides manufacturers of infant nutrition with services on product safety, quality management, traceability and commercialization among others.

References

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control. (2026). Public alert No. 08/2026: Danone Nutricia recalls several batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk formula products due to potential contamination with cereulide toxin. https://nafdac.gov.ng/public-alert-no-08-2026-danone-nutricia-recalls-several-batches-of-aptamil-and-cow-and-gate-first-infant-milk-and-follow-on-milk-formula-products-due-to-potential-contamination-with-cereulide-toxin/
Food Safety Authority of Ireland. (2026). Danone recall of specific batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate first infant milk and follow-on milk formula products due to potential contamination with cereulide toxin. https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/latest-news/danone-recall-of-specific-batches-of-aptamil-and-c
Premium Times. (2026). NAFDAC announces recall of Aptamil, Cow & Gate infant formula batches. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/859765-nafdac-announces-recall-of-aptamil-cow-gate-infant-formula-batches.html
The Journal Nigeria. (2026). NAFDAC recalls contaminated Aptamil, Cow & Gate formulas. https://thejournalnigeria.com/nafdac-recalls-contaminated-aptamil-cow-gate-formulas/

Nigeria: Danone Nutricia Recalls Aptamil and Cow & Gate Infant Milk Formula Due to Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Reason for Warning

Root Cause Analysis

Health Issue Identified

Concerns from Regulatory Body

Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Manufacturer and Consumer Guidance

For Consumers

For Manufacturer (Danone Nutricia)

FRL Commentary

Conclusion

References

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Nigeria: Danone Nutricia Recalls Aptamil and Cow & Gate Infant Milk Formula Due to Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Reason for Warning

Root Cause Analysis

Health Issue Identified

Concerns from Regulatory Body

Potential Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Manufacturer and Consumer Guidance

For Consumers

For Manufacturer (Danone Nutricia)

FRL Commentary

Conclusion

References

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