The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has advised consumers not to feed their children with two infant formula products after cereulide toxin were detected in them.
“As a precautionary measure while SFA’s investigations are ongoing, SFA has issued a direction to recall these products,” according to a statement released on Saturday (Jan. 17).
One of the affected products is Nestle NAN HA1 SupremePro (800g) from Switzerland with batch number: 52340017C3 and expiry date on Aug. 31, 2027.
The other affected product is Dumex Dulac 1 (800g) from Thailand with batch number: 101570778C and expiry date on Sep. 3, 2027.
SFA has also advised those whose children have consumed the affected products and are unwell to seek medical advice promptly. Consumers may contact their point of purchase for product enquiries.
The recall comes as SFA steps up surveillance and testing of infant formula products after sales of five infant formula products were halted on Jan. 8 due to the potential presence of cereulide toxin.
The two affected products “may have used the same raw ingredient supplied by the same source used in the earlier batches of implicated infant formula products,” the statement said.
SFA has confirmed that a Singapore-based manufacturer, SMC Nutrition, had used the same raw ingredient in some of their infant formula products meant for export.
It has directed SMC Nutrition to stop the export of the affected products and also notified the authority of the importing country.
Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus bacterium, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhoea.
The symptoms typically appear between 30 minutes to six hours from consumption of the affected product and usually resolve within 24 hours.
“Vulnerable populations, such as infants and immunocompromised persons, are at higher risk for complications.”
SFA cited a case who developed mild symptoms likely associated with cereulide exposure but has since recovered.
There are no definitive clinical laboratory tests to confirm cereulide poisoning and SFA is working closely with the Communicable Diseases Agency to conduct surveillance and monitor potential cases of cereulide poisoning in children, the statement added.
