Nestlé Pulls NAN Formula Off SA Shelves After Global Contamination Scare

What triggered the recall

For many South African parents, baby formula is not just another grocery item, it’s a daily essential built on trust. That trust was shaken this week after Nestlé South Africa confirmed a recall of one of its NAN formula milk products following a global contamination alert from its parent company.

The product affected is NAN Special Pro 0–12 (6 x 800g), manufactured on 15 June 2025, with an expiry date of 15 December 2026 and batch number 51660742F3. The product has been pulled from shelves nationwide.

According to reports, the recall follows Nestlé Switzerland’s discovery of traces of a toxin in some formula products internationally.

What the health concern is about

Nestlé says the recall is a precautionary move linked to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause digestive problems such as nausea and stomach discomfort.

Local spokesperson Conny Sethaelo stressed that no other Nestlé products in South Africa are affected, and that the recall was done out of caution rather than confirmed harm locally.

Globally, the recall has been broader. Countries affected include Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, the UK, and parts of Scandinavia, where SMA, BEBA and NAN formula products were withdrawn.

How South Africans are reacting

On social media, parents have been quick to share batch numbers, photos and warnings in WhatsApp parenting groups a familiar pattern whenever food safety concerns emerge. While some praised Nestlé for acting quickly, others questioned how such contamination slips through quality controls in the first place.

For families already grappling with the rising cost of baby essentials, the recall has added stress, especially for those who rely on specific formula ranges for medical or nutritional reasons.

Not the first food recall to spark concern

This incident comes against the backdrop of several high-profile product recalls in South Africa in recent years.

In early 2024, Pick n Pay pulled two peanut butter brands after high levels of aflatoxin were detected. Woolworths, meanwhile, recalled apple juice products in 2021 after finding dangerously elevated mycotoxin levels.

Even when companies deny widespread recalls, as seen recently when Sasko rejected claims of a massive bread recall after a rat was allegedly found in a loaf , public confidence often takes a knock. In that case, many consumers said they would return products anyway, fearing contamination.

Why transparency matters

Food safety experts often note that recalls, while alarming, can also signal systems working as they should identifying risks before they escalate. But repeated incidents across brands have made South Africans more sceptical and far more vocal.

For now, parents are urged to check batch numbers carefully and return affected products to retailers. As one parent commented online: “When it comes to babies, there’s no such thing as being too careful.”

And in a country where trust in big brands is increasingly fragile, how companies handle moments like these may matter just as much as the recall itself.

{Source: Briefly}

Follow Joburg ETC on Facebook, Twitter , TikTok and Instagram

For more News in Johannesburg, visit joburgetc.com