Danone is recalling specific batches of its Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula, manufactured in Ireland. Tests found the potential presence of cereulide in the product.
Danone first recalled affected batches on January 23, 2026. It widened the recall on February 5, with an updated notice from Ireland’s food safety authority on February 6. The products were exported to EU countries, the UK and third countries.
The recall remains open, with no closure date announced in the notices reviewed here. Parents should check the batch code and expiry date on their formula against the recall notice before feeding it to an infant.
- Action type: Voluntary recall (targeted batch withdrawal)
- Announcement and initiation dates: Announced January 23, 2026; widened February 5-6, 2026
- Company and responsible agency: Danone / FSAI
- Recall or campaign number: FSAI Alert Notification 2026.05 (Category 1); no Danone recall number stated
- Affected models, lots, UPCs, serial numbers, or VINs: Six named Aptamil/Cow & Gate products (800g) by batch code and expiry date
- Number of affected units: Not published
- Sold at and sale period: Manufactured in Ireland; exported to EU, UK and third-country markets; price/period not stated
- Hazard: Potential cereulide contamination (Bacillus cereus toxin) from a contaminated ARA oil ingredient
- Reported incidents, injuries, illnesses, and deaths: Switzerland: 20 illness reports since Feb 3, 2026; 2 of 3 tested family samples cereulide-positive
- Remedy: Do not use; contact Danone’s Aptamil careline (1800 22 1234) or Cow & Gate careline (1800 570 570)
Table Of Contents
- Latest Danone Baby Formula Recall Updates
- What Is Cereulide?
- Which Danone Baby Formula Products Are Affected?
- Why Was Danone Baby Formula Recalled?
- Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
- What Should Consumers Do?
- Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
- Legal Options
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What Are the Symptoms of Cereulide Exposure?
- Has Danone Been Sued over the Baby Formula Recall?
- What Is the FSAI Alert Number for This Recall?
- Were Other Infant Formula Products on Store Shelves Tested for Cereulide?
- What Did EU Regulators Say About the Health Risk from the Recalled Formula?
- When Did EU Health Authorities Report the Gastrointestinal Illness Cases?
- References
Latest Danone Baby Formula Recall Updates
February 18, 2026: Swiss Officials Report 20 Illness Cases
Switzerland’s food safety office said it had received 20 reports of possible illness since February 3, 2026. The reports involved recalled infant formula from several brands sold in the country, including Aptamil. [1]
Of three family-supplied samples the agency tested by that date, two came back positive for cereulide. Both were Aptamil products Danone had recalled just two weeks earlier, on February 5, 2026.
February 5, 2026: Danone Widens the Recall
Danone recalled two more Aptamil products – Aptamil Pronutra 1 (1.2kg) and Aptamil Pronutra Junior (12+). Cereulide traces had been confirmed in samples collected from affected families in Switzerland. This widened the recall it had begun on January 23.
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland‘s updated notice, Alert 2026.05, followed on February 6. It listed six Aptamil and Cow & Gate products by batch code and expiry date. [2]
January 30, 2026: France Lowers Its Cereulide Threshold
France lowered its regulatory threshold for cereulide in infant formula on January 30, 2026. The change was meant to strengthen the health-safety framework, according to France’s agriculture ministry. [3]
The lower limit applies to reconstituted infant and follow-on formula sold in France. It follows weeks of recalls by Danone, Nestle and Lactalis. The same contaminated ingredient was traced to a supplier in China.
January 29, 2026: Foodwatch Files a Criminal Complaint
Consumer group Foodwatch filed a criminal complaint with the Paris prosecutor’s office on January 29, 2026. The complaint was filed on behalf of eight families whose babies fell ill after consuming recalled formula. [4]
The complaint names Danone among several manufacturers. It calls for an investigation into possible offenses by the companies and oversight failures by regulators. The Paris Public Health Division opened an investigation the next day, January 30, 2026.
January 23, 2026: Danone Announces the Initial Recall
Danone began recalling specific batches of its infant and follow-on formula on January 23, 2026. The products were manufactured in Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland said the potential presence of cereulide had been identified. [5]
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland notified the European Commission through the EU’s food and feed rapid-alert system. This meant other affected countries across the bloc would be informed quickly.
What Is Cereulide?
Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus. It can cause acute food poisoning, the European Food Safety Authority said in a rapid risk assessment. [6]
It forms in food before packaging and is extremely heat resistant, so ordinary cooking does not destroy it. The contaminated ingredient behind this recall is described in the next section.
Which Danone Baby Formula Products Are Affected?
Danone’s recall covers six named Aptamil and Cow & Gate products. Each is identified by product name, pack size and a list of specific expiry dates on the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s notice:
- Aptamil 1, From Birth, First Infant Milk (800g) – eight expiry dates between July 2026 and November 2026
- Aptamil 2, 6-12 Months, Follow-On Milk (800g) – ten expiry dates between June 2026 and December 2026
- Aptamil Hungry, 1 From Birth, First Infant Milk (800g) – three expiry dates between July 2026 and February 2027
- Cow & Gate Anti-Reflux From Birth (800g) – two expiry dates in August and December 2026
- Cow & Gate Hungry First Infant Milk From Birth (800g) – two expiry dates in July 2026 and January 2027
- Cow & Gate First Infant Milk From Birth, Stage 1 (800g) – eight expiry dates between June 2026 and January 2027
Match the batch code and the expiry date to the list above. The product name alone does not confirm whether a specific can is affected.
Why Was Danone Baby Formula Recalled?
Danone recalled the products because of a contaminated batch of ARA oil. This ingredient, sourced from a supplier in China, is used to fortify infant formula. Tests found it carried cereulide, a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.
The same contaminated ingredient also reached multiple other manufacturers. It first surfaced in Nestle’s own quality checks in December 2025. France’s agriculture ministry has said the contamination then spread to formula made by Lactalis.
Danone described the affected volume as “a very limited number of specific batches”. It said the recall was taken to comply with evolving food-safety guidance from regulators. [7]
Reported Incidents, Injuries, or Illnesses
Switzerland reported 20 possible-illness cases in its February 18 update. Two of three tested family samples were positive for cereulide – see Latest Updates above for the test details.
Separately, seven European countries reported infants with gastrointestinal symptoms after consuming recalled formula. The countries were Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Spain and the UK, European health authorities said in a joint statement.
France’s agriculture ministry said no causal link had been established between the recalled formulas and the symptoms reported in infants. This was the ministry’s position as of January 22, 2026.
Cereulide can cause vomiting or diarrhea, and illness reports alone do not prove that a specific product caused a specific case.
What Should Consumers Do?
If you have a recalled Danone Aptamil or Cow & Gate infant or follow-on formula product at home, take the following steps:
- Check the product name, batch code and expiry date printed on the container. Match them against the FSAI or Danone recall notice before using it.
- Do not feed an implicated batch to an infant or young child, even if the container has already been opened.
- Stop using the product immediately and follow the retailer’s point-of-sale instructions for returning or disposing of the affected batch properly.
- Contact Danone’s Aptamil careline at 1800 22 1234 or www.aptaclub.ie. Or contact the Cow & Gate careline at 1800 570 570 or www.candgbabyclub.ie for questions about a specific batch.
- Report a suspected reaction to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland or to your own country’s national food-safety authority directly.
- Watch for repeated vomiting or diarrhea after feeding a recalled batch, and contact a doctor promptly if they appear.
Other Recalls, Warnings, or International Actions
The same contaminated ARA-oil ingredient led Nestle to recall infant formula in multiple countries beginning in December 2025. France’s agriculture ministry reported the recall. Neither recall was announced by a U.S. food or product-safety agency.
Lactalis recalled its Picot-brand infant formula in France in 2026 over the same potential contamination, according to France’s official product-recall register. [8] See the Lactalis Baby Formula Recall Lawsuit page for more detail.
Legal Options
Foodwatch’s criminal complaint against Danone and several other manufacturers remains under judicial investigation in Paris. No French court has ruled on the merits, and no compensation has been ordered.
No U.S. class action or MDL has been filed against Danone over this recall. A recall or regulatory investigation does not automatically establish liability in an individual case.
See the Baby Formula Recall Lawsuit hub on this site for broader coverage of the wider cereulide litigation across manufacturers.
Filing Deadlines
Deadlines for pursuing a legal claim over a recalled product are set by law and depend on where the family lives.
They also depend on when the illness and the affected batch were identified. Some places start the filing period at diagnosis rather than purchase.
A missed deadline can end a claim even when the underlying facts are strong, so families considering a review should contact a lawyer promptly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the Symptoms of Cereulide Exposure?
Cereulide exposure can cause nausea, severe vomiting and diarrhea, according to Ireland’s and Switzerland’s food-safety authorities. Symptoms typically appear within about five hours of feeding and last 6 to 24 hours. Seek medical care if an infant develops repeated vomiting or diarrhea after feeding on a recalled batch.
Has Danone Been Sued over the Baby Formula Recall?
Danone has not been sued over the baby formula recall in the United States. The only legal action so far is a French criminal complaint – see the January 29 update above for what it alleges.
What Is the FSAI Alert Number for This Recall?
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s alert notification number for this recall is 2026.05. It was issued February 6, 2026 as a Category 1 “for action” notice. That meant retailers had to remove the listed batches from sale immediately.
Were Other Infant Formula Products on Store Shelves Tested for Cereulide?
Yes, other infant formula products on store shelves were tested for cereulide. In parallel testing of products not part of any recall, Swiss authorities checked the first 30 samples analyzed. None came back positive.
What Did EU Regulators Say About the Health Risk from the Recalled Formula?
EU regulators said the health risk from the recalled formula centers on cereulide. The European Food Safety Authority published a rapid risk assessment. It set an acute reference dose for infants of 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight.
EU health authorities first reported the gastrointestinal illness cases across seven European countries on February 19, 2026, in a joint statement – see Reported Incidents above for the full list of affected countries.
References
- https://www.bsv.admin.ch/de/newnsb/EgE_4Hi1C2eWyReGWHcyT
- https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/food-alerts/danone-recall-of-batches-of-aptamil-and-cow-gate-i
- https://agriculture.gouv.fr/point-de-situation-autour-des-retraits-rappels-volontaires-des-laits-infantiles-nestle-et-lactalis
- https://www.foodwatch.org/en/toxin-in-baby-milk-foodwatch-takes-legal-action-against-companies
- https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/latest-news/danone-infant-formula-and-follow-on-formula-recall
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12871449/
- https://www.danone.com/newsroom/press-releases/recall-specific-infant-formula-batches.html
- https://rappel.conso.gouv.fr/fiche-rappel/21024/Interne