Major dairy companies like Nestle, Danone, and Lactalis have recalled infant milk powder due to fears of contamination with cereulide, a harmful toxin from the Bacillus cereus bacteria found in the environment and raw foods.
Cereulide appears in food when bacteria grow, often due to improper cooling, such as with cooked rice left out too long, leading to the term “fried rice syndrome. ” It can also be present in starchy foods, dairy, seafood, and vegetables if not stored properly. Symptoms occur within 30 minutes to five hours after consumption, primarily causing nausea and vomiting, but most people recover within 24 hours, though severe cases can lead to acute liver failure.
Normal cooking and reheating do not eliminate cereulide since it is heat-stable. In infant formula, Bacillus cereus spores can survive and produce cereulide during processing, as heating does not destroy the toxin. Other foods can also be at risk if they cool or are kept warm improperly.
With information from Reuters
