Vevey, Switzerland – Swiss food giant Nestlé has issued a video apology from CEO Philipp Navratil following a large-scale recall of infant formula over concerns of possible contamination in a raw ingredient.
In a YouTube video, Navratil addressed the product recall and apologised to parents and guardians affected by the issue.
“Before I explain the situation in more detail, I first want to apologise sincerely for the worry and disruption this may have caused parents, carers and our customers,” he said. “You trust us to provide products that are safe and of high quality, and we take that responsibility very seriously. As a parent myself, I fully understand how important this is to you.”
Navratil confirmed that the company identified a quality concern at one of their factories in the Netherlands in December 2025.
“This investigation concluded that the source was a specific raw material from one of our suppliers. Once we confirmed this, we immediately stopped distribution of all products with the affected raw material. Additionally, we initiated a precautionary recall in all impacted countries in coordination with all relevant authorities in early January.”
Following this, Nestlé launched a global recall in January 2026, affecting 42 countries in Europe, seven in the Americas, and 11 across Asia, Oceania, and Africa, including Australia, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
According to the product advisory on the company’s official website, after detecting a quality issue with an ingredient from a leading supplier, Nestlé tested all arachidonic acid (ARA) oil and corresponding oil mixes used in its potentially affected infant nutrition products.
The batches sold worldwide may contain cereulide, a bacterial toxin that can trigger nausea and vomiting. Cereulide is produced by certain strains of the microorganism Bacillus cereus and causes foodborne illness.
Popular brands such as Beba and specialist formulas including Alfamino are among those affected. In the Philippines, limited batches of NAN OPTIPRO and NANKID OPTIPRO infant formula were included in the recall.
Nestlé said the recalled batches represent well under 0.5% of its annual sales, and the financial impact is not expected to be significant.
The company also reassured customers that “no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the products involved to date” and that it takes all consumer enquiries “very seriously and is duly investigating them.”
Navratil added, “What’s important to me in this situation is that we remain guided by our values. Food safety and trust come first. This is at the heart of everything we do and reflects our deep sense of responsibility and care.”
He further said, “The actions we are taking demonstrate our commitment to upholding the highest quality and safety standards…let me reassure you that your safety and well-being is our highest priority, and that is what I want Nestlé to stand for.”
![[Campaign] Happy Kicks, Happy Kids](https://marketech-apac.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Campaign-Happy-Kicks-Happy-Kids-1.jpg)