Austrian authorities have reported 14 cases of illness linked to the toxin cereulide in baby food, affecting children aged between two weeks and three years. According to the Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), three cases are confirmed while eleven are considered probable.
All affected children have recovered, though three required hospital treatment. The most recent illness began on February 10th.
Cases have been reported across eight Austrian federal states, including Burgenland, Carinthia, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Tyrol, and Vienna. AGES tested 162 samples of infant formula from 15 manufacturers, finding cereulide in 28 samples, though most were below the safety limits set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Manufacturers affected by the contamination have already conducted recalls. Out of the tested samples, 130 contained no detectable levels of the toxin, while the results for four samples are still pending.
Since December, major European companies, including Nestlé, Danone, and Lactalis, have recalled infant formula in over 60 countries due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin that can cause diarrhea and vomiting. The recalls so far have been traced to contaminated oil used as an ingredient in the milk powders, supplied by a Chinese vendor.
Other European countries, including Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Spain, and the United Kingdom, have also reported similar cases. Joint assessments by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and EFSA indicate that most cases caused only mild gastrointestinal symptoms, though some children required hospitalization due to dehydration.
