NAFDAC Recalls Contaminated Aptamil, Cow & Gate Formulas
Nigeria’s food safety regulator has issued a recall for several batches of Aptamil and Cow & Gate infant formula. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) acted after Danone Nutricia flagged potential contamination with cereulide. This toxin, produced by Bacillus cereus, triggers severe vomiting and nausea in infants. Most of the tainted tins originated in Irish and Hungarian factories before reaching European and British shelves. The agency now faces the task of ensuring these global batches do not leak into local markets through informal channels.
The list of affected goods is extensive and spans products with expiry dates from July 2026 to February 2027. It includes standard 800g packs, 1.2kg “Big Packs,” and even pre-measured tablets. Regulators are particularly concerned about the “Hungry” and “Anti-Reflux” variants of both brands. Parents often seek these specific formulas for babies with digestive sensitivities. A toxin that causes gastrointestinal distress is cruel for such a demographic. NAFDAC insists that products manufactured specifically for the Nigerian market remain safe for use.
Official imports of Aptamil Nutribiotik carry specific registration numbers that parents should verify immediately. These legal versions comply with Codex standards and have cleared the necessary safety hurdles. The agency has already blocked suspected batches at a local warehouse to prevent their distribution. However, Nigeria’s porous borders and thriving “grey market” often see European stock sold in local shops. Any tin lacking a NAFDAC number should be treated as a health risk. This is a matter of life and death for the vulnerable.
The timing of this recall adds to a growing sense of unease among Nigerian parents. Only days ago, the agency discovered tampered tins of SMA Gold in Kaduna State. Criminals had pasted new stickers over original expiry dates to sell expired milk. A four-month-old infant suffered distress after consuming the revalidated formula. This suggests a more systemic problem than a simple factory error in Europe. It highlights a predatory local trade in counterfeit and expired life essentials.
Surveillance teams are now moving through markets to identify illegal imports and tampered stock. Zonal directors have orders to seize any product that matches the recalled European batch codes. Healthcare providers must also watch for sudden clusters of vomiting in infants. The agency relies heavily on public reporting to map the spread of these goods. Vigilance is the only real shield when supply chains become compromised. Parents must buy only from trusted, authorised pharmacies or supermarkets.
Trust in global brands usually rests on the assumption of rigorous quality control. This recall proves that even the largest dairy firms can fail at the factory gate. When those failures meet a local market prone to fraud, the risk doubles. NAFDAC must now prove its enforcement is sharp. Analysis of the blocked warehouse stock is currently underway in state laboratories. We expect a clear report on how much of this toxin reached our shores.