NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 9 – The Competition Commission of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has issued a consumer alert warning that specific batches of Nestlé’s SMA infant formula sold in Kenya may be contaminated with cereulide, a toxin produced by bacteria.
In the alert issued on Thursday, COMESA said preliminary market surveillance shows that the affected products are available to Kenyan consumers through online platforms, including Jumia. The commission said the development requires immediate action by retailers and logistics providers to identify and isolate the affected stock.
Nestlé initiated a voluntary global recall of the affected products on January 5, 2026, following internal quality checks. The company has said no confirmed cases of illness linked to the identified batches have been reported so far.
COMESA, acting under Regulation 66 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations 2025, advised consumers to exercise caution. The directive was issued by the commission’s Director of Consumer Welfare, Steven Kamukama.
The recall affects several specialised infant nutrition products, including SMA Advanced, SMA Little Steps, SMA Anti-Reflux and the medical-grade SMA Alfamino. Consumers have been urged to check the base of formula tins for specific batch codes and to avoid feeding the products to infants if the codes match those listed in the alert.
Already, Nestlé has advised consumers in possession of the affected products to photograph the product and batch code and submit the details through its consumer care channels to obtain a full refund. The company said all other Nestlé products and unaffected batches of SMA infant formula remain safe for consumption.
Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced by Bacillus cereus bacteria and cannot be destroyed through boiling or standard sterilisation methods. Symptoms of cereulide poisoning include nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, typically occurring within 30 minutes to six hours after consumption. Parents and caregivers have been advised to seek immediate medical attention if infants show symptoms after consuming the affected products.
