Urgent Recall: Check your cupboards for this Aptamil formula batch

If you've bought Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk online from Boots recently, you need to check your cupboard. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has issued an urgent recall for a specific batch of the formula due to potential contamination with cereulide, a toxin that can cause severe vomiting in babies.

The affected product was manufactured in Ireland by Danone and was meant for export to EU countries, the UK and elsewhere. However, some packs made their way back to Ireland through the Boots.ie website for online sales, which is why parents here need to be aware of this recall.

Which Product Is Affected?

The recalled product is Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk in the 800g pack size, with an expiry date of 31 October 2026. If you have this specific batch at home, don't feed it to your baby.

The FSAI is clear in its advice: if you have this product, stop using it immediately. If your baby hasn't shown any symptoms after consuming it, nothing further needs to be done. But if you're worried about your little one's health or they're showing signs of illness, contact a healthcare professional straight away.

What Is Cereulide and Why Is It Dangerous?

Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning. The nasty thing about this toxin is that it's extremely heat resistant, so even if the formula was prepared correctly, the toxin could still be present.

Consuming foods containing cereulide can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms typically appear within five hours of consumption, and the illness usually lasts between 6 and 24 hours. For a tiny baby, that's obviously incredibly concerning for any parent.

This recall is linked to a contaminated raw ingredient that was also involved in recent recalls of other infant formula and follow-on formula products. The culprit? An ingredient called ARA oil, manufactured in China, which was contaminated with cereulide before being added to the base powder used to make infant formula.

What Should You Do?

First things first: check your formula cupboard. Look for the Aptamil 1 From Birth First infant milk, 800g pack, with the expiry date 31-10-2026.

If you have it, don't use it. Contact Danone's Aptamil careline team on 1800 22 1234 if you have any questions about the recall or need guidance on what to do next.

The FSAI and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are continuing to work with Danone to ensure all food safety measures are in place to protect consumers. It's reassuring to know the authorities are on top of this, even if it's unsettling that it happened in the first place.

For more information, you can check the FSAI food alert on their website. And if you're feeling anxious about this or need reassurance about your baby's health, don't hesitate to reach out to your public health nurse or GP. That's what they're there for.