Singapore Expands Infant Formula Recall to 11 Batches Over Cereulide Toxin

Singapore's food safety authority expanded its infant and toddler formula recall to 11 batches on March 15 after detecting cereulide toxin in two additional products: Nestlé NAN HA2 infant formula and Nature One Dairy Organic Toddler Milk Formula - Stage 3.

The Singapore Food Agency issued directions to recall both products in a joint statement with the Communicable Diseases Agency. The affected batches are an 800g tin of Nestlé NAN HA2 (batch 52750017C1, expiry 31/10/2027) sourced from Switzerland, and a 900g tin of Nature One Dairy Stage 3 toddler formula (batch 326251110, expiry 11/11/2027) sourced from Australia. "SFA has detected cereulide toxin in two additional formula milk products (one meant for infants and the other meant for children above one year old). As a precautionary measure, SFA has issued a direction to recall the implicated products. The recall is ongoing," the agency said.

The March 15 additions brought the cumulative total to 11 recalled batches since SFA first acted on January 8, when it ordered five batches of Nestlé infant and follow-on formula off shelves after overseas countries reported contaminated batches. By January 30, SFA had detected cereulide in four more infant formula products. Dumex Dulac products were also ordered pulled during January's initial wave of actions.

Despite the scale of the action, SFA and CDA emphasised the scope remains limited relative to the overall market. "The implicated batches of imported infant formula milk products make up about 5 per cent of our imported supply of infant formula milk products, and they are a minority of overall infant formula milk products available in Singapore," the agencies said.

The March 15 statement also confirmed no new illness cases since the January 30 update. Three children in Singapore had previously been identified with mild symptoms likely linked to cereulide exposure after consuming affected products; all three have since recovered. Surveillance has continued through CDA's coordination with medical practitioners, though the agencies noted a significant diagnostic constraint: "Currently, there are no definitive clinical laboratory tests available to confirm cereulide poisoning."

That limitation is compounded by the toxin's physical properties. Cereulide is highly heat-stable, and SFA and CDA warned that standard formula preparation offers no protection: "Cereulide is highly heat-stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking, using boiling water, or when preparing infant formula. Even properly prepared formula can still contain the toxin and cause illness." In infants, symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and cramps presenting as persistent crying and refusal to feed, with onset typically within a few hours of consuming contaminated formula.

The March 15 detection of the Nature One Dairy batch came after SFA deliberately expanded its testing scope. Having completed surveillance of infant formula products at major retail outlets, the agency extended testing to toddler formula products for children above one year old and completed that expanded sweep before announcing the new recall.

Parents who purchased Nestlé NAN HA2 batch 52750017C1 or Nature One Dairy Stage 3 batch 326251110 are advised not to feed the products to their children and to contact their retailer for product inquiries. Any child who has consumed the affected formula and shows symptoms of illness should receive prompt medical attention.