Nestle Nigeria Plc has said that its infant formula sold in Nigeria are not affected by the precautionary recall in several other markets worldwide.
The company said this in a statement issued on Friday by its Corporate Affairs Manager, Toju Egbebi, noting that the recall applies only to specific batches of infant formula sold outside Nigeria and does not affect products distributed locally.
“Infant formula sold by Nestle Nigeria is not part of the voluntary and precautionary recall of specific batches announced in some countries,” the company said.
Nestle Nigeria added that all its infant formula products officially registered with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) remain safe for consumption.
The company listed the products sold in Nigeria as SMA Gold 1, SMA Gold 2, and SMA Gold 3, as well as NAN Optipro 1, NAN Optipro 2, and NAN Optipro 3, noting that they meet all relevant regulatory and safety requirements.
The clarification followed Nestle’s announcement on 5 January that it was recalling specific batches of infant formula brands, including SMA, NAN, BEBA, and Alfamino, due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin known to cause foodborne illnesses, including nausea and vomiting.
Global recall, no illness recorded
Nestle said the recall was carried out purely as a precautionary measure and stressed that there have been no confirmed reports of illness linked to consumption of the affected products.
“The safety and well-being of babies is our absolute priority,” Nestle said in a recall notice on its website.
“Out of an abundance of caution, Nestle has decided to perform this voluntary product recall in line with our strict product quality and safety protocols.”
As of 10 January, information published on Nestle’s website shows that the recall has expanded to over 50 countries worldwide.
In Europe, the recall affects 31 countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. In the Americas, seven countries are affected, including Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.
In Asia, Africa and Oceania, the recall covers 16 countries and territories, including Australia, China (Mainland and Hong Kong), New Zealand, South Africa, Vietnam, Taiwan and eight countries across the Middle East and North Africa region.
Products previously seen on shelves
Although NAFDAC has not issued an official public statement on the recall, checks by PREMIUM TIMES conducted before Nestle Nigeria’s response showed that several Nestle infant formula products were still on sale in supermarkets across Abuja and Lagos.
In Abuja, NAN Optipro Variant 1 and SMA Gold were found at +234 Supermarket in Karshi, while NAN products were seen at Abyvon Supermarket in Orozo. Further checks at stores in Maraba market showed SMA Gold, NAN Comfortis, NAN Optipro and Lactogen displayed for sale.
In Lagos, NAN and SMA products were also seen at supermarkets, including Penaforte along LASU–IBA Road, Twins Faja, Healthrite on Ogunnusi Road, Omole, and Old English Supermarket in Omole Phase 1. Store attendants at the outlets visited said they were unaware of the global recall and had received no directive regarding the available products.
Expert urges caution, regulatory clarity
A Nigerian child health advocate and consultant paediatrician, Ayodele Renner, popularly known as The Noisy Naija Paediatrician, said cereulide-related vomiting could pose serious risks to infants.
“Infants can get very easily dehydrated from just a little bit of vomiting,” he said. “They only need to lose about 10 per cent of their body weight in water to become severely dehydrated or even go into shock.”
Mr Renner also explained that all infant formula sold in Nigeria is imported, either officially by Nestle Nigeria, through parallel importers, or personally by individuals returning from abroad.
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He urged parents to check for NAFDAC registration numbers and verify manufacturing locations and batch details using Nestle’s country-specific websites.
On regulation, he said communication from NAFDAC would help address public concern.
“NAFDAC has a responsibility to protect the public, but it also needs to ensure accuracy,” he said.
“That said, parents are concerned and asking questions, and timely communication would be helpful.”
Recall spans continents
Reuters reported that Brazil’s health ministry said the recall followed the detection of the toxin in products originating from the Netherlands, while Nestle Australia said affected batches there were manufactured in Switzerland.
Nestle China confirmed it was recalling formula imported from Europe. In South Africa, the National Consumer Commission said the affected NAN infant formula was produced in June 2025 and exported to neighbouring countries.
Austria’s health ministry described the development as the largest recall in Nestle’s history, though the company said it could not independently verify that claim.
