Vietnam’s health ministry orders halt to Nestlé baby formula over toxin alert

By Le Nga, Minh Phuong January 7, 2026 | 03:01 pm PT

An opened can of formula milk. Photo courtesy of the National Institute of Korean Language

Vietnam’s health authorities have ordered a halt to the sale and online listing of certain Nestlé infant formula products following global recalls over possible bacterial toxins.

On Jan. 7, the Ministry of Health instructed regulators, e-commerce platforms and distributors to suspend sales and remove information related to Nestlé powdered milk sold under the Beba and Alfamino brands. The move follows warnings that some batches may carry cereulide, a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus that can cause severe vomiting and abdominal pain.

In an urgent notice, the Food Safety Authority asked relevant agencies to inspect and strictly handle any cases involving the circulation of the affected products. Nestlé Vietnam was also ordered to urgently review the registration status of the two brands and report whether any shipments had entered the country, including details on import volumes, sales, remaining inventory and proposed handling measures. The reporting deadline is Jan. 10.

Nestlé Vietnam said it has not imported any of the recalled batches into the Vietnamese market and does not distribute Beba or Alfamino products through any channels in Vietnam, including direct sales, partners or e-commerce platforms. The company also said the two brands have not been registered or declared for sale in the country.

The Vietnamese directive comes after Nestlé announced a precautionary recall of certain infant formula batches in Europe. According to the company, the affected products were mainly sold in countries including France, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy and Sweden, under various brand names depending on the market.

Nestlé said no cases of illness linked to the products have been reported, but the recall was issued "out of an abundance of caution." The company has apologized and pledged refunds to affected consumers.

Health authorities warn that cereulide can trigger rapid-onset food poisoning and is particularly dangerous for infants. Medical experts note that the toxin is highly resistant to heat and may not be destroyed during boiling or standard formula preparation, posing a serious risk if contaminated products are consumed.