Press Statement
The Centre for Consumer Concern, Awareness and Initiative (CCC-AI) is issuing an urgent public health warning to parents, caregivers, healthcare providers, and retailers on the global recall of batches of contaminated SMA Infant and Follow-On Formula, produced by Nestlé UK & Ireland.
These products, some of which must have entered the Nigerian market through independent importers and grey-market channels, are contaminated with Cereulide — a dangerous toxin produced by Bacillus cereus.
Contrary to the notion that using boiled water while preparing the affected infant foods would automatically neutralise the toxins, the CCC-AI states unequivocally that this is false. As a fact, Cereulide is extremely heat-resistant, and infants who consume contaminated formula risk suffering food poisoning, regardless of the preparation method adopted.
Health rsks to infants
Symptoms may occur within 30 minutes to 5 hours, including:
- Severe vomiting
- Rapid dehydration (potentially life-threatening within hours)
- Electrolyte imbalance and extreme lethargy
- Possible mitochondrial damage from repeated or high exposure
We are urging parents whose babies might have consumed SMA products in recent times to seek urgent medical examination
What to do
- CHECK YOUR TINS IMMEDIATELY
Look for the batch number printed on the base of the tin or side of liquid packs. If your product matches any of the below, then DO NOT USE IT!
⚠️ AFFECTED PRODUCTS & BATCH CODES
53230295M
52870295M
53030295M
53040295M
53070295M
53080295M
SMA First Infant Milk 70ml
53170742B1
SMA Lactose Free 400g
51150346AB
51500346AB
51719722BA
51759722BA
51829722BA
51979722BA
52109722BA
53299722BA
53459722BA
SMA Anti-Reflux 800g
51570742F3
52099722BA
52099722BB
52739722BA
ALFAMINO 400g
51200017Y3
51210017Y1
51220017Y1
51250017Y1
51390017Y1
51420017Y2
51430017Y1
51460017Y1
51690017Y2
51690017Y3
51700017Y1
51710017Y1
51740017Y1
52760017Y5
52790017Y1
52860017Y1
53100017Y3
53110017Y1
53140017Y1
53140017Y2
53150017Y1
SMA First Infant Milk 800g
51590346AB
52750346AE
SMA Advanced First Infant Milk 800g
51450742F1
SMA Advanced Follow-On Milk 800g
51240742F2
51890742F2
SMA Comfort 800g
52620742F3
SMA First Infant Milk 200ml
53070295M
52860295M
52870295M
53220295M
53230295M
SMA GOLD PREM 2 — 800g
53090742F2
SMA LITTLE STEPS First Infant Milk 800g
51540346AD
SMA Alfamino (additional affected lots)
51200017Y3
51210017Y1
51250017Y1
51460017Y1
51710017Y1
ADVISORY TO STAKEHOLDERS
The CCC-AI warns retailers and online vendors that under the FCCPA (2018) the selling of hazardous or recalled products is illegal. We therefore urge them to stop the sale of the recalled products if still in their stock. We also advise retailers to report inventory of the affected stock to relevant authorities. Similar to this, we are calling on the National Administration for Food, Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and consumer protection agencies to immediately comb the Nigerian market for the affected products and effect seizure wherever found. In the same vein, we advise NAFDAC to carry out “hold and test” directive at all ports for UK-sourced dairy imports.
In conclusion, the CCC-AI warns that the safety of Nigerian infants is non-negotiable. Products deemed unsafe abroad must not become acceptable here. Nigerian babies deserve the same level of protection as babies anywhere in the world.
