Our Reporter, Abuja
Nestlé Nigeria has said that infant formula products sold in the country are not affected by a global recall announced by the parent company, despite the advisory noting that the list of impacted countries and products is inexhaustive and subject to updates.
The reassurance followed a worldwide advisory issued by Nestlé after a quality issue was detected in an ingredient — arachidonic acid (ARA) oil — supplied by a leading vendor and used in some infant nutrition products. The issue prompted precautionary recalls in several markets, even though no illnesses have been confirmed to date.
In Africa, only Egypt and South Africa have so far issued public recall notices. In South Africa, the affected product is NAN Special Pro HA 0–12 (800g tin) with batch number 51660742 F3, while in Egypt, NAN OptiPro 1 and NAN Comfort 1 were listed. Nestlé, however, cautioned that the list of affected countries is not exhaustive and will be updated as investigations continue.
In Nigeria, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had yet to issue an official response as of the time of reporting. Nestlé Nigeria, however, moved quickly to distance its locally distributed products from the recall.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Corporate Affairs Manager, Toju Egbebi, the company said the recall applies only to specific batches sold outside Nigeria.
“Infant formula sold by Nestlé Nigeria is not part of the voluntary and precautionary recall of specific batches announced in some countries,” the statement said.
The company added that all its infant formula products officially registered with NAFDAC remain safe for consumption and meet all regulatory and safety requirements.
Nestlé Nigeria listed its locally sold products as SMA Gold 1, SMA Gold 2, SMA Gold 3, as well as NAN OptiPro 1, NAN OptiPro 2, and NAN OptiPro 3.
Globally, Nestlé said it initiated the recall after tests revealed a quality issue with ARA oil, an ingredient used in infant formula. The company explained that the concern relates to the possible presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. According to Nestlé, the presence of cereulide in oils is very uncommon, and a full root-cause analysis is ongoing with the supplier.
The multinational stressed that no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the affected products. Possible symptoms, if exposure were to occur, include severe or persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or unusual lethargy, typically appearing within 30 minutes to six hours.
Nestlé said it is working closely with food safety authorities in affected countries, has tested all relevant oil mixes, and is implementing measures to protect consumers while minimising supply disruptions. The company also noted that the recalled batches account for less than 0.5 per cent of its annual global sales and are not expected to have a significant financial impact.
Reiterating its commitment to transparency, Nestlé said it would continue to keep parents, caregivers, and the public informed as investigations progress, emphasising that the safety and wellbeing of infants remain its top priority.
