Luxembourg authorities have issued a recall of a baby formula product amid concerns that the item may contain cereulide, a bacterial toxin known to cause digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea in infants.
The orange level alert was issued on Thursday for Laboratoires Picot infant formulas, which are sold across multiple outlets in Luxembourg.
The recall affects the following products:
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Picot Standard 1ᵉʳ Age, 850g box, best-before date 20 February 2027, batch 800000329
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Picot Standard 2ᵉ Age, 850g box, best-before date 29 January 2027, batch 8000003281
Authorities have urged parents and caregivers not to use these formulas and to follow official guidance for returns or disposal.
This recall is part of a broader international wave of withdrawals affecting the baby formula sector. In recent weeks, Nestlé and France’s Lactalis have also recalled products across several countries, including in France, China, Australia and Mexico.
Investigations suggest the potential contamination may involve arachidonic acid (ARA), a synthetic substance used in some infant formulas as a source of omega-6 fatty acids.
ARA is highly regulated in Europe, but according to the NGO Foodwatch, this component is supplied by one of the few global producers, based in China. The organisation has filed a complaint to shed more light on the recall, warning that millions of infants worldwide could be affected.
Cereulide, the toxin in question, forms when certain bacteria are heated insufficiently to kill them and then cooled, creating a risk in products like powdered infant formula.
Authorities are urging consumers to check their products immediately and follow official instructions, emphasising that safe use cannot be assumed even after the date of the alert has passed.
(This article was originally published by Virgule. AI translated, with editing and adaptation by Lucrezia Reale.)
