2 babies dead after drinking recalled Nestlé infant formula, French authorities investigating

French authorities are investigating after two babies died in France after allegedly drinking contaminated Nestlé infant formula.

The first baby, aged 27 days, died on Dec. 23, 2025. The second, aged two weeks, died on Jan. 8, 2026, reported Le Monde.

In a Jan. 23 statement, France's health minister said that all suspicious infant formula has been withdrawn and investigators are looking into the babies' deaths.

Nestlé told AFP that it would cooperate with the investigation and said there was "no evidence" linking its products to the babies' deaths, The Straits Times wrote.

No causal link has so far been established between the formula and the deaths.

SFA recall

On Jan. 6, Nestlé recalled batches of infant milk in several European countries following reports of cereulide toxin contamination.

The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) subsequently issued an order to halt the sale of five batches of Nestlé infant formula on Jan. 9.

A second SFA recall, with two more formula products by popular brands Nestlé and Dumex, was initiated on Jan. 17. 

SFA said that it has since intensified surveillance and testing, and noted that the implicated batches make up less than 5 per cent of Singapore's imported infant formula.

It added that the recall was a precautionary measure while investigations are ongoing.

Toxin contamination

Cereulide is a toxin that can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.

Symptoms typically resolve within 24 hours, but vulnerable groups — including infants — face higher risks of complications.

There has been one case in which a child consumed an affected product and developed mild symptoms likely associated with cereulide exposure. The child has since recovered.

However, the authorities said there are currently no definitive clinical laboratory tests to confirm cereulide poisoning.

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