Lorraine Williamson
Spain’s food safety agency has widened a precautionary warning linked to Nestlé infant formula, urging families to stop using any potentially affected product until they have checked the batch code. The update was issued through AESAN’s national alert network, with all regions notified and retailers asked to pull the relevant lots from sale.
The expansion follows earlier precautionary action elsewhere in Europe and an initial alert that focused on a narrower set of batches. The concern relates to the possible presence of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium that can produce toxins. One of these, cereulide, is associated with food poisoning and is known for being heat-stable, which is why authorities treat infant formula incidents with particular caution.
What parents in Spain need to know
Nestlé says the recall is preventive and limited to specific batch numbers, not entire product lines. In practice, that means two tins with the same brand name may not be treated the same way—everything depends on the lot code.
In Spain, the ranges referenced in the recall information include specialist formulas such as Alfamino and Alfamino Junior, and several mainstream lines including NAN, Nativa and Nidina, with certain variants named within those families. The exact affected lots are published by the authorities and reflected in Nestlé’s own consumer guidance.
How to check your tin in seconds
Nestlé has set up an online product checker for Spain. You enter the batch/lot code from the packaging, and the tool tells you whether that unit is affected. If it is, the advice is clear: do not use it. Nestlé says customers can return affected products to the point of purchase for a refund, following retailer instructions.
Symptoms to watch for
Health authorities underline that this is a precautionary move and that, at the time of the alert, there were no confirmed illness cases publicly linked to the affected batches in Spain. Still, parents are advised to be alert for symptoms consistent with toxin-related food poisoning, including vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, and signs that a baby is unusually unwell.
If a child has consumed formula you later discover is affected and then becomes ill, it’s sensible to speak to a paediatrician and share the product details and lot code.
Why this matters beyond one brand
Infant formula is tightly regulated, but manufacturing is complex, and supply chains are international. When a contamination risk is suspected—especially involving toxins that aren’t reliably removed during preparation—recalls tend to move quickly and, sometimes, widen as investigations develop. AESAN’s role is to push those warnings out fast, so products can be removed before harm occurs.
What to do right now
If you use infant formula at home, take a moment to check the lot code before the next feed, even if the tin looks normal and smells fine. If it’s on the affected list, stop using it and follow the return guidance. And if you’re unsure, don’t guess—use the checker or ask your pharmacist or paediatrician for advice.
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