The Public Health Authority (ÚVZ) of the Slovak Republic received a warning notice from the Czech Republic through the rapid warning system for food and feed RASFF, regarding the substance cereulide in infant formula from Estonia. TASR was informed about this by the ÚVZ communication department.
- ÚVZ SR warns of cereulide toxin in Happy Mimi 1 infant formula.
- Laboratory tests confirmed the contamination of the product, its use is not recommended.
- 1512 pieces of this batch were imported to Slovakia from Estonia.
- Consumers can return the nutrition to the seller, the authorities verify its recall.
- Cereulide can cause health problems, especially in children under six months.
It is a product called Happy Mimi 1 (initial infant formula) for babies from zero to six months. It is a 400-gram package, EAN code: 8590273645524, lot: 3418, with a best before date of July 28, 2027. “The results of the analysis in the laboratory of the State Agricultural and Food Inspection in Prague confirmed the presence of a toxin (cereulide),” explained the ÚVZ. He therefore does not recommend using this batch of the Happy Mimi 1 product to prepare food for newborns and infants.
He claims that the Czech company Solvent ČR delivered this product to Slovakia in the number of 1512 pieces. Regional public health authorities are verifying the withdrawal of nutrition from the market in the Slovak Republic. “Customers have the option to return this food to the retailer where they purchased it,” the hygienist added.
Contamination of food with cereulide (a toxin produced by the bacterium Bacillus cereus) can mainly cause loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and malaise, but more serious health effects cannot be ruled out. “According to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), symptoms can appear 30 minutes to six hours after consuming contaminated food. According to the ECDC, in younger infants, cereulide can change the balance of salts in the body and lead to complications such as dehydration,” the ÚVZ said. Potential negative health effects depend on the age of the infant, with newborns and infants under six months of age being at higher risk of more severe effects.
