The Paris prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into five major infant formula producers following widespread recalls amid concerns over contamination with the toxin "cereulide." Meanwhile, reports indicate at least 36 infants in the UK have fallen ill.
On 13 February 2026, the Paris prosecutor's office in France initiated an investigation into five infant formula producers: Nestle, Lactalis, Danone, Babybio, and La Marque en moins, after several companies announced large-scale product recalls due to concerns that their formula might be contaminated with the toxin "cereulide" (Cereulide).
The Paris prosecutor will also coordinate with local investigations to determine whether there is a connection between the potentially contaminated infant formula and the deaths of three infants in France.
The investigation aims to ascertain whether criminal liability applies for distributing potentially contaminated products. Meanwhile, French authorities have received complaints from eight individuals reporting that their children experienced vomiting after consuming the formula.
Last week, Nestle and Danone recalled products in over 60 countries, including the United Kingdom, where officials reported that at least 36 infants have shown symptoms suspected to be food poisoning after consuming the formula.
Cereulide is a heat-resistant toxin that is not easily destroyed by cooking or formula preparation. Ingesting it may cause nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. The contamination is linked to an ingredient called arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, a compound that enhances growth properties to more closely resemble breast milk.
Source: France24