36 UK infants fall ill after baby formula contaminated with toxin linked to added oil

British public‑health agencies have recorded 36 cases of infants becoming unwell after consuming specific batches of infant formula that were later withdrawn from sale. A rapid onset of vomiting and diarrhoea in affected babies prompted testing that detected the toxin cereulide; investigators have traced the likely source to an additive used to mimic components of breast milk, identified as arachidonic acid oil. Major formula manufacturers have issued recalls for implicated lot numbers and removed products from shelves while regulators map every finished product that received the suspect ingredient. Cereulide is notable for resisting destruction by heat or routine formula preparation, meaning standard home‑mixing and heating will not neutralise the contaminant. So far none of the reported infants are understood to be in critical condition, and surveillance systems have not detected an unexpected rise in vomiting among all infants under one year, but health authorities stress active monitoring and clinical reporting will continue. The episode exposed a fragile node in infant‑nutrition supply chains where a contaminated upstream specialty ingredient can propagate across many brands and markets. In parallel, French regulators have announced a lower permissible level for a related contaminant in infant formula, triggering immediate retesting of existing stocks and the potential for additional product removals in France and possibly other EU markets. That regulatory tightening is likely to accelerate batch testing, compel producers to reassess inventory compliance, and increase the logistical burden on retailers and wholesalers handling potential returns. Smaller producers may face disproportionate strain because specialised testing, reformulation and supplier audits are costly and time‑consuming. For parents and clinicians the immediate priority remains avoiding recalled batches and seeking prompt medical advice if symptoms develop. Longer‑term responses are expected to emphasise stronger upstream controls for specialty nutritional oils, improved traceability, harmonised testing standards and faster public‑notification procedures. Commercially, manufacturers and suppliers face reputational damage, recall and logistics costs, possible litigation, and potential short‑term supply pressures for particular formula types. Policymakers and industry groups are likely to engage on surveillance programmes and acceptable analytical methods to limit future episodes and restore consumer confidence in infant nutrition products.