A series of infant formula recalls globally has revealed a systemic problem. The desire to make complex-composition foods more similar to breast milk increases the risk of contamination and weakens supply chain control.
Modern.az reports that the deaths of two infants in France are being investigated for possible links to "Nestle" infant formula.
Hospitalizations of infants in the US led to a widespread recall of products from the "ByHeart" startup.
These incidents have affected major market players - "Nestle", "Danone", and "Abbott" - and have shaken confidence in the infant formula industry, which is officially considered one of the most regulated sectors globally. A key element of the crisis is related to arachidonic acid (ARA), a widely used brain-developing additive in infant formula. Nestle has accused one of the world's largest producers, the Chinese company "Cabio", as the source of contamination. The proliferation of suppliers and the reliance on private audits rather than state inspections for food control regulations have exacerbated the problem.
Nestle's product recall is the largest in the company's history and affects more than 60 countries.
Azerbaijan, as part of the global world, has not been immune to this issue. On November 11, 2025, the Azerbaijan Food Safety Agency (AFSA) issued a warning against the use of the US product "ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula" in our country due to its potential to cause botulism cases (severe food poisoning caused by toxic bacteria) in infants.
On January 7, 2026, “Nestle” company adopted a precautionary recall decision regarding certain food products intended for infants and young children. Specific batches of products manufactured under the “SMA”, “BEBA”, “ALFAMINO”, “Pre NAN” and several other trademarks were recalled from circulation in Austria, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The reason for this is the possibility of contamination of the products with “Cereulide” toxin, originating from “Bacillus cereus” bacteria, during the production process.
It should be recalled that, according to WHO recommendations, breastfeeding remains the safest and most effective way to feed infants, but the infant formula market continues to grow and its turnover could exceed $180 billion by 2034.
