02/02/2026
EU standards vs US standards — why this matters for babies 🥛 😢
BOIL ALL POWDER FORMULA WITH FILTERED WATER PRIOR TO FEEDING (cool down first)
This is a perfect example of why many parents (and clinicians 👋) say EU food safety standards are far more protective than US standards.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) just took a very cautious stance on cereulide, a toxin linked to a massive global infant formula recall — and the contrast with the US is stark.
Here’s what the EU did 👇
• Near zero-tolerance: EFSA set a new safety threshold so low it’s almost undetectable
• Drastic reduction: Acute reference dose (ARfD) lowered to 0.014 µg/kg body weight — more than 50% lower than prior unofficial guidance
• Clear action points:
– Safety concerns if formula exceeds 0.054 µg/L (infant formula)
– 0.1 µg/L (follow-on formula)
What happened next?
• Immediate recalls across 60+ countries
• Major brands like Nestlé, Danone, and Lactalis pulled products
• Smaller French brands followed immediately after the EFSA announcement
• The suspected source? ARA oil traced back to a supplier in China
Why this toxin is scary
• Cereulide is produced by Bacillus cereus
• Can cause acute vomiting, dehydration, and illness in infants
• Authorities are investigating whether it may be linked to two infant deaths in France
Why the EU vs US difference matters
The EFSA recommendations aren’t even legally binding yet — but they’re still used as the gold standard for pulling products off shelves before more babies are harmed.
Meanwhile, the US often:
• Reacts later
• Allows higher thresholds
• Relies on recalls after illness reports
Parents can track real-time EU safety alerts through the EU Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) — a level of transparency we simply don’t have here.
Bottom line:
The EU consistently applies the precautionary principle. The US waits for proof of harm. When it comes to infants, that difference matters.
This is not medical advice. I do not prefer or encourage any certain brand
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