Five babies in Murcia affected by contaminated Nestlé formula milk

Four babies needed hospital treatment, while similar cases have appeared across the UK, Belgium, Denmark and France

Five babies in Murcia are suspected to have fallen ill after drinking formula milk that was temporarily pulled from the shelves because it contained a toxin called cereulide. Four of them had to go into hospital, but all have now been discharged.

Across Spain, three more cases have been reported, making eight in total, according to the latest bulletin from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). Cases are also under investigation in the UK, Belgium, Denmark and France, where two deaths are being investigated.

Health authorities stress that these are suspected cases. They haven’t been able to confirm that the hospital visits were caused by the formula, as the toxin doesn’t show up in stool tests. Lab confirmation is still pending, says the ECDC.

The affected formula brands have been widely sold across the EU, so there could be more cases. The ECDC warns that the risk of exposure is moderate to high for babies who use these products. Murcia’s health service points out that the alert system worked well, helping them spot these cases and report them to the national authorities quickly.

Cereulide comes from the bacteria Bacillus cereus. Babies under six months are most at risk, as exposure can lead to dehydration and electrolyte problems. Overall, the ECDC says the risk for children under one in the EU is moderate.

The Spanish Food Safety Agency (Aesan) has been keeping an eye on this since December, when Nestlé reported a contaminated batch of Nidina 1 formula. Other affected brands include Alfamino, Nan, Nativa, Damira, Almiron, and Babybio. Parents can check which batches are affected on the company websites and on Aesan’s site.

Symptoms show up quickly, usually within 30 minutes to six hours, and include nausea, vomiting, tummy pain and sometimes diarrhoea. The ECDC advises taking babies to a doctor if they show these symptoms, and to go to urgent care if the symptoms are severe or don’t stop.

Image: Pexels/ Sarah Chai