Incident Overview: Multiple Infants Hospitalized, Authorities Step Up Monitoring
According to an alert issued by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) in February 2026, Spain has reported a total of eight cases of infants suffering from vomiting and gastrointestinal distress after consuming formula suspected of contamination. Five of these cases were severe enough to require hospitalization. The Director of Public Health for the Spanish Ministry of Health, Pedro Gullón, confirmed that due to the emergence of these cases, authorities are strengthening nationwide surveillance and have coordinated with the health departments of all autonomous communities.
Although the cause of all cases has not yet been definitively confirmed by laboratory tests, all affected infants share a common history of consuming products listed as potentially contaminated. Pedro Gullón also pointed out that establishing a direct causal link between these cases and Bacillus cereus intoxication is challenging, as other factors like common infant diarrhea must be ruled out.
Source of Contamination: Bacillus cereus and Its Toxin
The culprit behind this incident is a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus (B. cereus). This bacterium is widely present in natural environments such as soil and water, and can therefore contaminate food through raw materials. Information from the ECDC indicates that the source of contamination has been traced to an omega-6 supplement used in the formula production—arachidonic acid. The toxin can cause symptoms in infants such as nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, and dehydration, with the risk being particularly significant for newborns and infants under six months old.
Europe-Wide Risk and Response
This formula contamination incident is not confined to Spain. Due to the wide distribution of the affected products within the EU and other countries, the ECDC estimates the probability of infant exposure to the contaminated formula as “moderate to high.” For the most vulnerable group—infants under one year old—the risk level is rated as “moderate.”
Other EU countries have also reported related cases: Belgium detected the Bacillus cereus toxin in the stool samples of five infants; France has seen eleven infants hospitalized after exposure to the toxin; and the UK has recorded thirty-six cases of infant gastrointestinal symptoms linked to the implicated product batches. As multi-country recall actions are implemented, the risk of exposure is gradually decreasing.
List of Recalled Products in Spain
Since December 2025, the Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN), based on risk assessments from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), has progressively announced and executed precautionary recalls for multiple product batches. This measure aims to protect public health and prevent more infants from being affected. The brands and products confirmed to be recalled currently include:
- Nidina 1
- Lactalis Nutrición
- Babybio Caprea 1
- Babybio Optima 1
- Almiron
- Bledina
Authorities advise consumers to pay close attention to official announcements for specific recall batch information and to stop using the related products.
