Vietnam urges Nestlé to report on Beba, Alfamino infant formula after Germany recall

The Food Safety Authority (FSA) under the Ministry of Health made the request on Wednesday, following reports a day earlier that the global food and beverage giant had announced the preventive recall.

The action was taken over concerns that the products may contain cereulide, a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus bacteria that can pose health risks to infants.

To safeguard consumers in Vietnam, the FSA has instructed Nestlé Vietnam to conduct a comprehensive review of all activities related to the two product lines.

This includes verifying the registration status of product declarations or self-declarations for Beba and Alfamino infant formula in the Vietnamese market.

The company is also required to submit a detailed report on the quantities of the products imported, sold, and currently in inventory, along with proposed handling measures if any affected batches have been, or are found to be, circulating in Vietnam.

The FSA has set January 10 as the deadline for Nestlé Vietnam to complete its review and submit its findings and response plans, allowing regulators to consider further management measures if necessary.

At the same time, the FSA has requested the Department of E-commerce and Digital Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to notify e-commerce platforms and online retailers of the recall and ask them to work with Nestlé Vietnam, distributors, and shop owners to immediately suspend sales of any affected Beba and Alfamino products found in Vietnam.

Relevant businesses are instructed to remove all promotional and sales-related information for these products to protect consumers’ rights and health, while competent authorities are required to take action according to the law if any violations are found.

Consumers should closely follow updates from regulators and manufacturers and remain cautious when choosing powdered milk products for infants, the FSA advised.

According to the UK’s Food Standards Agency, cereulide is highly heat stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by boiling or during infant formula preparation.

Jane Rawling, head of incidents at the agency, warned that cereulide can cause food poisoning symptoms that develop rapidly, including nausea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps.

Nestlé S.A. said no cases of illness have been confirmed in connection with the affected products, AFP reported, according to the group’s official website.