Nestlé and Danone hit by backlash over contaminated baby formula
Nestlé and Danone hit by backlash over contaminated baby formula
Nestlé and Danone hit by backlash over contaminated baby formula
Toxin traced to Wuhan laboratory has led to product recall and growing crisis for consumer groups
Infant formula makers Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis are facing a growing backlash after an ingredient they sourced from a single supplier in China was contaminated with a dangerous toxin, risking the health of babies around the world.
The ingredient, arachidonic acid-rich (ARA) oil - which was exposed to a toxin called cereulide - was sourced from a Wuhan laboratory. It was added to hundreds of baby formula product lines before they were shipped out to more than 65 countries across five continents.
The crisis has prompted an outcry from consumer rights groups and public health charities, which are calling for tighter controls of the sector, arguing that manufacturers have compromised the safety of infants in pursuit of profits.