Rhiannon Ingle
There have been 36 clinical reports of babies falling seriously ill from contaminated baby formula.
After consuming the formula, which has since been recalled, children have suffered symptoms consistent with toxin poisoning, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has said.
The UKHSA said it and partner agencies had received 24 notifications in England, seven in Scotland, three in Wales, one in Northern Ireland, and from the Crown Dependencies, all involving children who had consumed implicated batches and developed symptoms.
Earlier this month (5 January), the Food Standards Agency (FSA) confirmed that Nestle was undertaking a precautionary product recall of several batches of 12 SMA Infant Formula and Follow-On Formula products in the UK due to the possible presence of the cereulide toxin.
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The recall was updated with new product expiry dates a few days later (9 January).
Some weeks later (24 January), Danone – another widely distributed infant formula retailer – recalled one batch of Aptamil First Infant Formula because of cereulide contamination.
It emerged last week that the contamination that led to both recalls originated from a shared, third-party ingredient supplier.
Gauri Godbole, the deputy director of gastrointestinal infections, food safety and one health at the UKHSA, said the reports of children with these symptoms were not unexpected due to the 'widespread availability of the affected products prior to the recall'.
"Current surveillance indicators do not show unusual increases in reports of vomiting in children under the age of one for this time of year, but UKHSA are monitoring these outputs and continues to investigate the public health implications of this recall, including the impact of the toxin on children," she added.
"Parents and caregivers are advised to recheck and remove all recalled formula from their homes to prevent illness in their children."
Following the reports, the FSA urged people with any affected products to stop using them, switch to an alternative and contact their GP or NHS 111 if their baby had already consumed the formula.
They added that, if formula is prescribed, parents should speak to a pharmacist or a doctor before switching.
The UKSHA explained that Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that can contaminate a range of food products, and when allowed to grow, certain strains can produce the cereulide toxin.
Bacillus cereus is a type of bacteria that can contaminate food. Symptoms of Bacillus cereus food poisoning and cereulide toxin poisoning are most commonly vomiting, but may include stomach cramping and diarrhoea.
Symptoms usually have a rapid onset between 15 minutes and up to six hours after ingestion and usually resolve within 24 hours, provided there is no ongoing exposure to the toxin.
Ingestion of the toxin rarely causes more significant illness; a 'few' cases of liver or kidney injury, muscle breakdown and multi-organ failure have been reported, the UKHSA said.
Those at high risk of complications include young children and the immunocompromised.
The FSA is continuing to investigate the source of the contamination, and more details about which batches have been recalled can be found on food.gov.uk or on the Nestlé website.