New Zealand's a2 Milk company announced on 2/5 a voluntary recall of three batches of a2 Platinum Premium infant formula, intended for children aged 0-12 months, in the U.S. market. This decision followed the detection of cereulide, an intestinal toxin capable of causing vomiting, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Following the recall announcement, a2 Milk's shares on the stock market fell by 18.8% to 7.23 NZD, marking its steepest decline since mid-August 2024. The presence of the intestinal toxin was discovered during additional testing in mid-April, conducted under new guidelines from the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries.
The company distributes the 900-gram product line for children aged 0-12 months through its internal website and retail systems such as Amazon and Meijer. U.S. consumers purchased approximately 16,428 cans from the recalled batches. Customers should check the bottom of the can to verify three lot numbers: 2210269454 (expires 15/7/2026), 2210324609 (expires 21/1/2027), and 2210321712 (expires 15/1/2027). The company advises parents to immediately dispose of the product or return it to the point of purchase for a refund.
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a2 Platinum Premium infant formula for children aged 0-12 months recalled in the U.S. market. Photo: FDA |
a2 Platinum Premium infant formula for children aged 0-12 months recalled in the U.S. market. Photo: FDA
Cereulide is produced by Bacillus cereus bacteria. Hot water used to prepare formula cannot destroy this heat-resistant toxin. Children who consume products containing the toxin typically experience nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes to 6 hours. While symptoms may resolve on their own after 24 hours, the toxin remains dangerous for infants as it can easily cause dehydration, requiring parents to seek prompt medical intervention. To date, a2 Milk has not recorded any cases of children experiencing health issues.
The company believes an ingredient in the formula carried the cereulide toxin. The World Health Organization (WHO) previously identified arachidonic acid (ARA) oil—a common ingredient in infant formula—as a primary source of contamination causing multinational food safety crises.
An a2 Milk representative affirmed that the incident is limited to the three batches specifically for the U.S. market. Markets in Vietnam, China, Australia, and New Zealand are completely safe because the company uses different formulas and ingredients, the representative stated.
By Binh Minh (According to FDA, The New Zealand Herald, Reuters)
