Second infant ill after consuming recalled Nestle formula in Belgium

​​​​​​​By Melike Pala

BRUSSELS (AA) - Belgium's Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain (FAVV) confirmed a second case of a baby in the Flanders region who fell ill after consuming recalled Nestle milk products contaminated with cereulide, broadcaster VRT reported.

Laboratory tests detected traces of cereulide in the infant's stool, according to the agency.

The baby, a few months old, developed diarrhea for several days in mid-January but has recovered.

The child consumed a Nestle milk product from the recalled batch shortly before symptoms appeared.

Health authorities said the most common symptoms of cereulide exposure include vomiting and watery diarrhea, typically occurring within 30 minutes to six to eight hours after consumption.

The Flemish Department of Healthcare previously reported one confirmed case, warning that the figure could be an "underestimate."

Health officials have reiterated their advice for parents to carefully check whether any milk or formula products in their homes are included in the recall and to stop using them immediately if affected.

Nestle initially collected some recalled products from households in Belgium, but later stopped. The recall has spread internationally, with French companies Danone and Lactalis removing products after cereulide was detected in ingredients from a shared supplier.

The company said the affected products have been distributed in more than 50 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Africa.

Nestle CEO Philipp Navratil apologized to parents and caregivers, describing the situation as "the largest preventive recall in Nestle’s history."