Recalled baby formula was sold in Ireland via Boots website, FSAI warns

Eva Osborne

Packs of baby formula, from a batch that was subject to a recall by Danone last week, were sold via Boots.ie website for online sales in Ireland.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) is advising parents, guardians, and caregivers who may have the recalled product at home not to feed it to their infant or young child.

Packs of the Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk were recalled due to possible contamination with cereulide, ‌a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting.

The implicated products were manufactured in Ireland by Danone and exported to a number of EU countries, the UK, and third countries. It was not thought that any implicated products were sold in Ireland.

However, due to indirect distribution to Ireland from the UK, the implicated packs were sold via the Boots.ie website for online sales.

The FSAI advises that cereulide toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant.

Consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually six to 24 hours.

This recall is associated with a contaminated raw ingredient which was also implicated in the recent recalls of some batches of infant formula and follow-on formula.

An ingredient, ARA oil, which was manufactured in China, was contaminated with cereulide and added as an ingredient in base powder used to make infant formula and follow-on formula.

Danone is advising customers to contact its Aptamil careline team on 1800 22 1234 if they have any queries regarding this recall.