Six babies fall ill after consuming Nestlé baby food, Dutch authorities say

The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has received six reports of babies becoming ill after consuming Nestlé products that are under a safety alert so far. Cereulide, a bacterium that can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, was found in the products earlier this month.

Besides the six cases reported to the NVWA, Nestlé said it has received at least four reports from Dutch parents of babies becoming ill after consuming the possibly contaminated baby food. The symptoms mentioned include diarrhea and vomiting, although the company stresses that this does not confirm that the products caused the illnesses.

Two varieties of Nestlé baby food were pulled from stores on January 5. An NVWA spokesperson cautioned that it has not been confirmed whether the reported illnesses were directly caused by the products.

French authorities are conducting a formal judicial investigation into a possible connection between two infant deaths and the contaminated powdered milk products. One baby died on December 23 in Angers, and another on January 8 in Bordeaux, though officials have not confirmed that the deaths were caused by the products.

Food watchdog Foodwatch went to court in France on Thursday, arguing that Nestlé, other companies, and authorities warned the public there “far too late.” Nicole van Gemert, director of Foodwatch Netherlands, said the organization is examining whether it has sufficient evidence to pursue a case in the Netherlands as well. French authorities are currently investigating the deaths of two babies who consumed Nestlé baby food.

Nestlé admitted that by late November 2025, it knew about cereulide contamination in products from its Dutch factory and subsequently issued a recall, which was reported in the Netherlands on December 9. The company said it wanted to complete a risk assessment first, but it has been criticized for responding too slowly.

Health authorities in Flanders confirmed that a baby became sick in early January from cereulide-contaminated Nestlé powdered milk. Laboratory analysis found the toxin in the child’s stool, and the baby has since made a full recovery. The case shows that cereulide illness can result from consuming contaminated products.

Nestlé has carried out a global recall of its baby food, affecting more than 60 countries, including the Netherlands, France, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, and Sweden. The company said it will move to a different supplier for the ingredient in question.

The unrest extends beyond Nestlé. Other leading baby food makers, including Danone and Lactalis, have initiated recalls in several countries over potential cereulide contamination. In Germany and other EU nations, certain batches have likewise been pulled from shelves.