Egypt Initiates Precautionary Recall of Danone Baby Formula Over Toxin Concerns

On Wednesday, Egypt's National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) announced a precautionary recall of several batches of Danone baby formula over concerns about potential exposure to cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus Cereus bacteria. This toxin can cause severe nausea and vomiting in infants. The affected products are Bebelac 1-400 GM and Bebelac Junior 3 400 GM, covering multiple batch numbers with expiration dates up to August 2027.

The recall has been coordinated fully with Danone Egypt, which has already initiated a voluntary recall of the affected batches under NFSA's supervision. The NFSA emphasized that this measure is precautionary and does not indicate a confirmed health risk to consumers. The alert follows recent guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) concerning acute reference doses of cereulide in infants.

The NFSA also noted that the alert was circulated through the EU's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), aiming for regulatory alignment rather than indicating a confirmed safety incident. The recall process includes stopping the distribution of affected batches and tracking products in warehouses, distributors, and retail outlets. Consumers are advised to check their products and contact Danone Egypt for refunds if they possess the listed batches.

The NFSA commended Danone Egypt for its swift response and highlighted that such precautionary recalls are internationally recognized practices designed to maintain public confidence in the national food safety system.