Moscow has banned imports of several Nestlé infant formula products following the detection of potentially harmful levels of cereulide toxin, a neurotoxin, in raw materials. The Russian consumer protection agency, Rospotrebnadzor, announced the temporary ban December 27th on several NAN-branded formulas manufactured between April adn November of last year, raising concerns about food safety and impacting families reliant on these products [[1]]. Nestlé Rossiya has initiated a voluntary withdrawal of the affected batches as it investigates the source of the contamination [[3]].
Russian consumer protection agency Rospotrebnadzor has banned imports of several Nestlé products due to the potential presence of cereulide toxin, also known as arachidonic acid. The move highlights increasing scrutiny of food safety standards and international trade relations involving Russia.
The ban, announced today, December 27, applies to a range of infant formula products including NAN 1 OPTIPRO, NAN 2 OPTIPRO, NAN Supreme, and NAN EXPERPRO. According to Rospotrebnadzor’s official portal, the affected products were manufactured between April 14 and November 27 of last year.
The agency stated that the toxin was detected in raw materials supplied to Nestlé. “According to information provided by Nestlé Rossiya, the Federal Service for Consumer Protection has implemented a temporary sanitary measure to halt imports” of the specified products.
Rospotrebnadzor warned that consuming products with high levels of cereulide toxin can cause vomiting and diarrhea within six hours of ingestion. These symptoms, the agency noted, are similar to those of food poisoning and allergies to cow’s milk proteins.
The agency is urging consumers to be aware of this information when selecting these products, and confirmed that the sale of the affected formulas has been prohibited throughout Russia.
Nestlé Rossiya announced on its own website that it is voluntarily withdrawing a limited batch of infant food products, beginning Monday, as part of increased quality controls on raw materials from an external supplier. “The company withdrew a limited batch of food products for young children from this Monday voluntarily, in view of an increase in the controls of the quality of raw materials from an external supplier,” the company stated.
