On January 27, the Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Health released an urgent public warning about several milk formula products for infants possibly contaminated with cereulide, a heat-resistant toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus.

The alert follows official notices from the Centre for Food Safety (CFS) in Hong Kong and the Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), both of which announced recalls of these products from the market.

According to the report, France-based organic food manufacturer Vitagermine has urgently recalled three batches of its Babybio Optima 1 formula, all produced in France:

Lot 894408 (800g can, expiry date July 9, 2027)
Lot 900035 (800g can, expiry date August 12, 2027)
Lot 900932 (400g can, expiry date August 18, 2027)

Additionally, two Australian-made formula products by Sanulac Nutritionals Australia Pty Ltd have also been flagged for recall:

Alula Gold Reflux (Lot 8000003387, 900g can, expiry March 17, 2027)
Alula Colic & Constipation (Lot 8000003407, 850g can, expiry March 17, 2027)

The Food Safety Authority explained that cereulide is highly heat-resistant and cannot be destroyed through cooking or boiling. Exposure to this toxin can cause vomiting, diarrhea, liver damage, and is particularly dangerous to newborns and small children.

To protect public health, the agency has instructed local Departments of Health, Food Safety Offices, and municipal food safety units to:

Review all registration and self-declaration documents related to the affected products.
Work directly with relevant businesses to halt distribution.
Notify distributors and consumers to stop using the affected batches.
Organize product recalls as per manufacturer guidance.

Authorities must also report on the quantity of affected goods imported, sold, and still in stock. They are expected to propose appropriate handling measures for each batch and submit a full report to the Food Safety Authority by January 31.

Post-market inspections revealed that some of the flagged products are still being advertised and sold online via e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Lazada, and Ausmart, as well as on TikTok.

The Ministry has requested that the Department of E-Commerce and Digital Economy (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade) coordinate with these platforms to immediately remove listings and penalize sellers if the products are found circulating in Vietnam.

Similarly, the Authority has asked the Department of Broadcasting, Television, and Electronic Information (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) to remove violating advertisements and sales posts from social media - especially TikTok - and to enforce relevant penalties.

The Food Safety Authority urges parents and caregivers to carefully check product names, lot numbers, and expiry dates. If a match is found with any of the recalled batches, usage should be stopped immediately.

They also advise families to closely monitor their children’s health and seek prompt medical attention if symptoms such as vomiting, fatigue, abdominal pain, or diarrhea appear.

Phuong Thuy