Feb 2, 2026, 3:32 p.mFeb 2, 2026, 3:32 p.m
Milk powder may contain cereulide. (symbol image)Image: keystone
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) on Monday set maximum levels for a toxin sometimes found in milk powder. There had previously been recalls in several countries.
The EFSA stated that a concentration of more than 0.054 micrograms of cereulide per liter in infant milk or more than 0.1 micrograms per liter in follow-on milk “could lead to safety values being exceeded.” EFSA scientists proposed an acute acceptable daily dose (ARfD) of 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight for cereulide in infants.
“This recommendation is intended to help risk managers in the EU decide when products need to be withdrawn from the market as a precautionary measure for public health reasons,” the Italy-based authority said in a statement.
It was initially unclear whether this new recommendation would lead to further recalls.
Since December, several manufacturers, including giants such as Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis, have issued infant milk recalls in more than 60 countries, including Switzerland, due to a risk of cereulide contamination. The Swiss manufacturer Hochdorf was also affected.
Cereulide, a toxin produced by certain bacteria, can “mainly cause digestive disorders such as vomiting or diarrhea,” according to the French Ministry of Health.
Two criminal investigations have already been launched in France after the deaths of two infants who drank formula recalled by Nestlé.
The French Ministry of Health said that so far no direct link has been established between consumption of the milk and the deaths.
The EFSA was commissioned by the European Commission to set a maximum limit for cereulide in children’s products. (sda/awp/afp)