The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a precautionary recall for a specific batch of Nestlé’s NAN Special Pro HA Infant Formula, which is designed for the dietary management of infants at risk of developing cow’s milk protein allergy.
The affected product comprises the 800g package intended for infants aged 0 to 12 months, with batch number 51660742F3 and produced in June 2025.
According to the Commission, this batch has been distributed through major retailers and distributors across South Africa, and it has also been exported to Namibia and Eswatini.
The recall arises from the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus, thereby raising significant food safety concerns.
This development follows Nestlé’s public advisory on 7 January 2026, where the company disclosed that, upon detecting a quality issue in an ingredient from a supplier, it conducted thorough testing of all arachidonic acid (ARA) oil and related mixes used in potentially affected infant nutrition products.
Furthermore, Nestlé confirmed that no illnesses have been reported in connection with these products to date, yet the company emphasises its serious approach to consumer inquiries and ongoing investigations.
“We are in contact with authorities in the relevant countries to ensure the necessary steps are taken. Nestlé assures parents and caregivers that it is implementing appropriate actions to help ensure the health and well-being of families and their babies. At the same time, we are working to minimize any potential supply disruption,” stated Nestlé.
In the meantime, the NCC advises consumers who possess the affected NAN Special Pro HA Infant Formula 800g to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
“The NCC will continue to monitor the matter and engage with the supplier to ensure ongoing compliance with the food safety requirements,” concluded the Commission.
Nestlé has provided the following information to assist consumers in understanding the issue:
Cereulide is a substance of bacterial origin that causes foodborne illness and is created by certain strains of the microorganism, Bacillus cereus. The presence of cereulide in oils is very uncommon, and Nestlé is working with the oil supplier, who is conducting a full root-cause analysis.
The recall applies to the 800g NAN Special Pro HA infant formula for babies aged 0–12 months, batch number 51660742F3, produced in June 2025.
No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the products involved to date. Symptoms to look out for are severe or persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, or unusual lethargy, and these would typically appear between 30 minutes to 6 hours after any exposure.
If no symptoms are displayed, there is no cause for concern of any health impact. If you have any concerns about your child’s health or nutrition, we advise you to talk to your paediatrician or healthcare provider. Regardless of whether symptoms are present, parents and caregivers are instructed to discontinue use of the product in accordance with the recall notice (if applicable in their market).
No illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the products involved to date.
ARA oil is used in a range of different infant nutrition products sold globally, so this issue impacts multiple countries, brands and products. The specific brands and products impacted differ on a country-by-country basis. In impacted countries and in accordance with local food safety law, Nestlé teams are cooperating with authorities to determine the course of action that support parents and caregivers. Nestlé local teams are in the process of publishing the necessary information on their local Nestlé / product brand websites. Nestlé remains committed to keeping parents, caregivers and the public informed and to providing clear, transparent information and support throughout this process.
Furthermore, if you have any concerns about your child’s health or nutrition, we advise you to talk to your paediatrician or healthcare provider.
Nevertheless, this recall exemplifies the indispensable function of regulatory authorities such as the NCC in enforcing rigorous standards across the infant nutrition industry, where any prospective hazards necessitate intervention. With global supply chains becoming increasingly intricate, these occurrences highlight the imperative for thorough supplier scrutiny and perpetual quality controls to preserve public health integrity.
It should be noted, consumers should check the product packaging for the product batch number and relevant information as well as the local Nestlé / product brand webpage in their country, to check if a product is impacted. If your product is part of the recall (if applicable in your market), you should stop using it immediately and return it.
Please refer to your local Nestlé / product brand website for the official recall notice and details of how to return the product for a full refund.
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