Nestlé’s infant formula recall has expanded well beyond Europe, now affecting countries across Africa, the Americas, and Asia, including Brazil, China, and South Africa. The growing scope of the recall has intensified concerns over the safety of the company’s infant nutrition products and the effectiveness of its quality controls.

Multiple Nestlé brands, including SMA, BEBA, NAN, and Alfamino, have been withdrawn over fears of contamination with cereulide, a toxin known to cause nausea and vomiting.

The recall adds pressure to Nestlé at a difficult time for the company, as it grapples with internal upheaval and slowing growth. Investor confidence has been shaken, with shares falling this week as the crisis deepened.

South Africa confirmed that recalled NAN formula made in June 2025 was also exported to Namibia and Eswatini. Austrian officials said more than 800 products from over 10 factories were affected, calling it Nestlé’s largest recall to date. The incident raises serious questions about safety oversight in food intended for infants.

In light of repeated recalls and safety concerns surrounding industrial infant formulas, parents should reconsider heavily processed, mass-produced baby foods. Simple, home-prepared options can offer greater transparency and peace of mind. For babies who are ready for solids, cooking vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, or zucchini and mashing or puréeing them at home allows parents to control ingredients and avoid unnecessary additives. Fruits like bananas, apples, and pears can also be steamed and blended into smooth, nutrient-rich meals.

These basic preparations, when introduced at the appropriate developmental stage, can be a more natural alternative to relying solely on corporate-produced baby foods whose safety has come under scrutiny.