UKHSA investigating 36 cases of children falling ill linked to recalled batches of baby formula

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed it is investigating 36 cases of children falling ill after being fed now-recalled batches of baby formula. 

Last month, food and drink giant Nestle recalled more than 60 batches of its SMA formula due to concerns about the presence of a heat-resistant toxin, cereulide, which can cause symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

Producer Danone also recalled one batch of its Aptamil formula.

Following the recall, which included powdered and premixed formulas for babies and toddlers, the UKHSA says it has "received 36 clinical notifications of children developing symptoms consistent with cereulide toxin poisoning across the UK, after consuming implicated batches".

"Given the widespread availability of the affected products prior to the recall and subsequent testing from the FSA identifying the toxin in batches of recalled formula, this is not unexpected," it added.

A mixture of boys and girls have been affected across the UK.

Confirmed infections with seasonal viruses have been noted in only a "few" of these cases, the UKHSA says.

Sky News understands that investigations to assess the severity of illness in individuals who consumed the formula and exhibited symptoms of food poisoning are ongoing.

Emily Beard's daughter was violently sick after being fed milk from a now-recalled batch of Nestle SMA formula.

Ms Beard told Sky News her daughter, who had just turned one when she fed an affected batch, "projectile vomited" soon after a feed and was in "pain and distress for several days".

"She is normally such a happy baby and we just couldn't work out what was wrong," she says.

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The mum, from Northamptonshire, then "couldn't believe it" when she received an email from the supermarket where she had bought the formula and realised she had been feeding her daughter an affected batch.

"I am furious," she added.

'Horrific experience'

Chloe Fernandes' eight-month-old daughter, Rebecca, needed hospital treatment after being fed a now-recalled batch of prescription-only SMA formula.

Ms Fernandes, from Nottinghamshire, told Sky News that "after stopping breastfeeding I put my full trust into Nestle, the brand and their product".

"Rebecca became very ill mid-December, and all over Christmas, with horrific diarrhoea and severe vomiting which led to her choking and needing to go to hospital," she says.

In hospital, her daughter was treated for dehydration and has fully recovered.

But Ms Fernandes says "couldn't really believe it" when she realised batches she'd been feeding her daughter were amongst the Nestle recall.

"All parents need answers," she says. "It was a horrific experience".

At the point of the original recall, Nestle said it was due to the "potential presence" of cereulide, and that the move was "out of an abundance of caution".

But last week, the Food Standards Agency confirmed to Sky News that cereulide was present in recalled batches.

On Thursday, a Nestle spokesperson told Sky News: "We are very sorry to hear about these cases."

"Our teams will work closely with any families who report these types of concerns to us.

"We continue to ask parents to check the batch codes of recalled products against our recall notice and thank all those who have contacted us so far."

Sky News has contacted Danone for comment.

(c) Sky News 2026: UKHSA investigating 36 cases of children falling ill linked to recalled batches of baby fo