08/01/2026
Nestlé infant formula recall reaches Namibia amid global safety alert
A GLOBAL recall of certain Nestlé infant formula products has reached Namibia after South African authorities confirmed that affected batches were exported to the country, prompting warnings to parents and caregivers to check product details and stop using the formula if it matches the recalled batch.
South Africa’s National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued an urgent recall of a specific batch of Nestlé NAN Special Pro HA infant formula due to the potential presence of cereulide, a heat-stable toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. The toxin can cause nausea and vomiting and may pose a heightened risk to infants.
The affected product is the 800g tin of NAN Special Pro HA (0–12 months), batch number 51660742F3, manufactured on 15 June 2025 and expiring on 15 December 2026. According to the NCC, the batch was sold in South Africa and exported to Namibia and Eswatini.
Consumers who may have purchased the affected product are advised to immediately stop using it and return it to the point of purchase for a full refund. Parents are urged to check the batch number printed on the bottom or side of the tin.
Nestlé said the recall is precautionary, following the detection of a quality issue in an ingredient — arachidonic acid oil — supplied by a third-party manufacturer. The company has stressed that no illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.
The Namibia-linked recall forms part of a wider global action by Nestlé affecting infant formula brands such as NAN, SMA, BEBA and Alfamino in at least 37 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Health authorities worldwide have issued warnings as a precaution.
Nestlé said all other products and unaffected batches remain safe for consumption and that it is working closely with authorities while sourcing alternative suppliers to maintain supply.
Source: Reuters / South Africa National Consumer Commission / Nestlé
Photos: Contributed / South Africa National Consumer Commission
