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Europe Widens Infant-Formula Recalls as Spain Logs Suspected Cases and France Probes Third Baby Death

Investigators are tracing the cereulide toxin to arachidonic acid oil used as an ingredient.

Overview

  • Spain’s food safety agency issued new RASFF alerts and ordered precautionary withdrawals of additional lots, including Almirón and Bledina products imported from Ireland and Babybio items from France.
  • The ECDC reports eight suspected cases in Spain with rapid-onset vomiting, five requiring hospitalization and now discharged, with no laboratory confirmation or established causality.
  • French authorities have recorded a third infant death following consumption of suspected formula, while the health ministry says imputability is unproven and judicial investigations are ongoing.
  • Preliminary analyses point to arachidonic acid (ARA) oil as the likely vehicle for cereulide, leading manufacturers such as Danone, Nestlé, Lactalis and Babybio to expand preventive lot withdrawals.
  • European surveillance has noted compatible pediatric cases in the UK, France, Belgium and Denmark, as EFSA evaluates cereulide limits and Spain’s Health Ministry reinforces epidemiological monitoring.