Contaminated Nestlé infant formula: Second case reported in Belgium

A second baby has been infected in Flanders with cereulide, the toxin that led to the large-scale recall of infant formula from Nestlé, according to the Flemish government's care department.

The first case in Belgium was in January, when another baby in Flanders fell ill after consuming formula from Nestlé that had been recalled due to cereulide contamination. The care department warned at the time that suspected cases were probably an underestimate.

The second baby, a few months old, fell ill in mid-January.

Laboratory analysis confirmed that the recalled formula the baby consumed was indeed contaminated with cereulide.

The child has since recovered, according to the care department, whose spokesperson warned that there may be further reported cases.

The most common symptoms of cereulide infection are vomiting and watery diarrhoea shortly after ingesting the milk. The symptoms are very similar to those of gastroenteritis.

If a baby shows such symptoms, parents should contact their general practitioner or paediatrician and mention that their child has consumed Nestlé milk products.

Apart from Nestlé, products from the Danone and Vitagermine/Babybio brands have also been recalled.

The Flemish care department recommends that parents carefully check whether the dairy products they have at home are part of a recall campaign. If this is the case, they should no longer use these products.

This check can be carried out via the food safety agency FASFC's website in English and via the manufacturer's website.

The suspected Nestlé milk products have been recalled by the FASFC since 5 January.