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Nestlé recalls infant formula batches over safety concerns
This file photo taken on October 9, 2014 shows the logo of the world's leading food industry group Nestle is seen at the group's Research Center in Vers-chez-les-Blanc, Switzerland.
Global food giant Nestlé has recalled specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula products due to the potential contamination with cereulide—a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.
An alert issued by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Competition shows that the recall comprises a wide range of Nestlé's SMA product portfolio, including SMA Advanced First Infant Milk, SMA Advanced Follow-on Milk, and SMA First Infant Milk in various sizes (70ml, 200ml, 400g, 800g, and 1.2kg).
Others include SMA Little Steps First Infant Milk, SMA Comfort, SMA Lactose Free, SMA Anti Reflux, SMA Gold Prem 2, and Alfamino products. Each affected product has specific batch numbers that consumers should verify.
“The Comesa Competition and Consumer Commission (The “Commission”) has become aware that on Januray5, 2026, the Nestle had voluntarily issued a global recall of specific batches of its SMA Infant Formula and Follow-ON Formula due to the potential presence of cereulide in the batches concerned,” read a statement by Steven Kamukama, Director of Consumer Welfare and Advocacy at Comesa Competition and Consumer Commission.
The company has emphasised that while no confirmed reports of illness have been associated with the products, it is proceeding with the recall as a precautionary measure in line with strict product quality and safety protocols.
Nestlé has assured consumers that all other products and batches of the same products not included in the recall remain safe to consume.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the recalled products are sold through online marketplaces accessible in the Comesa region, specifically on Jumia.co.ke in Kenya and youbuy.mw in Malawi.
Parents and caregivers across the Comesa, including the Kenya region, who have purchased SMA products are urged to immediately check their infant formula against the list of recalled batch numbers and follow Nestlé's return procedures to ensure the safety of their children.
“Nestle apologised to consumers, parents and caregivers for the inconvenience this might have caused. Nestle has advise consumers who might have purchased the recalled products to look for the corresponding batch cods on the vase of the tin or box for powdered formulas or the base of the outer box and on the side or top of the container for ready to feed formulas and share a photo of the product an batch code via https://www.nestle.co.uk/engb/betintouch for a refund,” said Mr Kamukama.
The infant formula industry has witnessed several high-profile recalls globally in recent years. In 2022, Abbott Laboratories recalled its Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare formulas in the United States due to Cronobacter sakazakii bacterial contamination that resulted in infant hospitalisations and deaths.
However, a review of import data by the Kenya Bureau of Standards (Kebs) established that none of the affected Abbott brands from the US had been imported into Kenya.
More recently, in November 2025, ByHeart infant formula was recalled in the US following an outbreak of infant botulism, marking the first time botulism had been linked to infant formula in that country.
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