Nestle issues apology, expands global infant formula recall over ingredient quality issue

Nestle has issued a public apology and expanded a global precautionary recall of several infant formula products after identifying a quality issue with an ingredient supplied by a third party. CEO Philipp Navratil addressed consumers directly, stating the company initiated the recall “as a precaution” and apologizing “sincerely for the worry and disruption this may have caused parents, caregivers and our customers.”

Global Scale of the Recall

The recall affects products distributed in more than 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. The issue was traced to a specific batch of arachidonic acid (ARA) oil—a fatty acid used in infant nutrition—supplied to a Nestle factory in the Netherlands. Upon confirming the quality concern in December, the company began voluntary recalls in several European markets and later expanded the action globally in early January as investigations progressed.

Assurances on Safety and Financial Impact

Navratil emphasized that there have been “no confirmed cases of illness linked to the affected products to date.” Nestle stated that the recalled batches represent “significantly less than 0.5% of annual group sales” and that the financial impact is not expected to be significant. The company underscored that infant safety is its top priority and highlighted its efforts to act “quickly and transparently” in coordination with national health authorities.

Ongoing Response and Supply Chain Review

Nestle has halted distribution of all products containing the affected ingredient and is conducting additional testing on ARA oil and related oil blends. The recall is being managed on a country-by-country basis in compliance with local regulations. This incident highlights the complex supply chain vulnerabilities in global food manufacturing, particularly for sensitive products like infant formula, and is likely to prompt stricter quality oversight of specialized nutritional ingredients.