Egypt recalls Danone baby formula as precaution against bacterial toxin

Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) on Wednesday issued a precautionary recall of several Danone baby formula batches over potential exposure to cereulide, a toxin from Bacillus Cereus bacteria that can cause severe nausea and vomiting in infants.

The recall, coordinated fully with Danone Egypt, affects the following products: Bebelac 1-400 GM and Bebelac Junior 3 400 GM, covering multiple batch numbers with expiration dates through August 2027. The company has already implemented a voluntary recall of the affected batches under the supervision of the NFSA.

“The measure is purely precautionary and reflects our commitment to the highest food safety standards,” the NFSA said, noting that the alert does not indicate a confirmed health risk to consumers.

The recall follows recent scientific guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regarding acute reference doses of cereulide in infants. NFSA stressed that the alert circulated via the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) is part of regulatory alignment and not linked to a confirmed safety incident.

The authority said the recall includes halting distribution of affected batches and tracking products in warehouses, distributors, and retail outlets. Consumers are advised to check their products and contact Danone Egypt for refunds if the listed batches are found.

The NFSA commended Danone Egypt for its rapid response and said such precautionary recalls are internationally recognised practices aimed at maintaining public confidence in the national food safety system.

Consumer contact: Danone Egypt hotline 16146, email Bebecare@danone.com; NFSA complaints 01555771100, email consumer.complain@nfsa.gov.eg

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English