Vietnam orders review of French Aptamil infant formula after UK recall

The ministry on Sunday said authorities and retailers must immediately halt sales and withdraw any affected products if they are found on the domestic market.

According to the Vietnam Food Safety Authority (VFSA) under the Ministry of Health, Danone on January 23 announced a voluntary recall of the affected batch of infant formula in the UK after detecting cereulide, a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.

Cereulide is a heat-resistant toxin that is not destroyed by normal cooking or heating and can cause nausea, vomiting, digestive disorders and, in severe cases, serious health effects in infants and young children.

The affected product is Aptamil First Infant Formula in 800-gram packaging with a use-by date before October 31, 2026.

The UK Food Standards Agency on January 24 issued a public warning advising parents not to use products from the recalled batch.

Following the announcement, the VFSA has instructed local authorities to take urgent measures to protect consumers, particularly infants and young children.

Provincial health departments and food safety agencies were asked to review the registration and self-declaration status of Danone-manufactured Aptamil infant formula products currently circulating in Vietnam.

If any businesses are found to have declared or distributed products linked to the recalled batch, they must immediately suspend use and organize a recall in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Authorities were also required to report the number of products imported, quantities sold, remaining inventory, and proposed handling measures for affected batches.

Local health agencies were instructed to strengthen public communications to ensure consumers are informed and avoid using infant formula products subject to the recall.

In addition, the VFSA has requested coordination from the E-commerce and Digital Economy Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to notify e-commerce platforms and online retailers about the affected Aptamil products and instruct them to refrain from selling them.

Platforms were instructed to remove listings of affected infant formula and work with sellers and distributors to handle the case in line with legal requirements.

Authorities therefore advised parents to use only milk products with clear origins that are legally declared in Vietnam and to closely monitor food safety warnings issued by domestic and international agencies.