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The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today advises that Nestlé is voluntarily recalling specific batches of its SMA infant formula and follow-on formula due to the potential presence of cereulide.
Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of the bacterium Bacillus cereus, which can cause food poisoning.
This recall is a precautionary measure being taken in the interest of public health, and there have been no reported cases of illness to date. The FSAI is advising parents, guardians and caregivers who may have the recalled products at home not to feed them to their infant or young child.
The products and batches being recalled are listed in the Food Alert Found HERE.
Batch codes can be found on the base of the tin or box for powdered formulas, or the base of the outer box and on the side / top of the container for ready-to-feed formulas.
The FSAI advises that cereulide toxin may be pre-formed in a food and is extremely heat resistant. Consumption of foods containing cereulide toxin can lead to nausea and severe vomiting. Symptoms can appear within five hours. The duration of illness is usually 6 to 24 hours.
The FSAI is advising parents, guardians and caregivers who may have the recalled products at home not to feed them to their infant or young child. If no symptoms are displayed, nothing further needs to be done. If a parent, guardian or caregiver is concerned about the health of their infant or young child, they should contact a healthcare professional.
Nestlé is advising its customers who have purchased any of these batches to contact:
- Via its online form, sharing a photo of the product and the batch code: https://www.nestle.co.uk/en-gb/getintouch.
- By calling its careline on 1800 931 832 (Ireland) or 0800 0 81 81 80(UK).
For more information, please see the Food Alert and Q&A.
HSE Test Purchases Show Over One in Five Vape Retailers Found Selling to Children.
Despite the under-18 sales ban, 51 retailers failed compliance checks between January and October 2025.
More than a fifth of vape shops tested are selling highly addictive vaping devices to children, despite a ban on sales to under 18 year olds, since 2023.
Between January and October last year, (2025), 51 retailers were caught selling vapes to children. This represented more than 22% of the 224 shops where inspectors carried out tests to see if the devices would be sold to under-18s.
Inspections were carried out by the HSE’s National Environmental Health Service, which is responsible for enforcing a 2023 law that banned the sale of nicotine-inhaling vaping products to children. The ban came into effect on December 22nd, 2023.
Retailers caught selling vapes to under-18s face a fine of up to €4,000 and up to six months in prison.
Tipperary: local enforcement:
While the HSE figures on failed test purchases are published nationally (and do not provide a county-by-county breakdown), HSE tobacco-control conviction lists for 2025 include recorded enforcement outcomes in Co Tipperary, including:
Thurles, Co Tipperary (HSE West / North Tipperary): a retail premises listed with an outcome of €500 fine plus €1,400 costs under Section 28 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts (date of court: 15 April 2025).
Cashel, Co Tipperary (HSE South / South Tipperary): a licensed premises listed with an outcome of €500 fine plus €1,150 costs under Section 47 of the Public Health (Tobacco) Acts (date of court: 5 June 2025).
Note: The published conviction list records outcomes under tobacco-control legislation and may relate to tobacco products and/or nicotine-inhaling products, depending on the case.
Details outlined HERE.
Ireland also regulates the safety, quality and advertising of vapes through a 2016 European Union directive.
Since March 2024 the HSE has had the power to carry out “test purchasing” to detect retailers who may be continuing to sell vapes to children. In 2024, the HSE carried out 256 inspections to make sure basic regulations on the sale of vapes were being upheld.
From these inspections, 14 prohibition orders stopping the sale of unregulated vapes were served on shops which the HSE felt were not complying with the law.
A proposed law to ban the sale of disposable electronic cigarettes or vapes is making its way through the Oireachtas. One of the purposes of the Bill is to make vapes less attractive or accessible to children by banning cheaper disposable vapes. It will also restrict the flavours of vapes and limit any description of a flavour other than its basic name. Colours and images on vape packaging will also be restricted.
The law is also designed to lessen the environmental impact of the disposable nicotine products.
The Public Health (Single Use Vapes) Bill is now being asked to include an outright ban on brightly coloured and sweetly flavoured nicotine devices, which, it is alleged, are targeted at children.
At committee stage on the disposable vapes Bill, the Government is understood to be addressing these issues.
Driver arrested after attempting to evade Mandatory Intoxicant Checkpoint in North Tipperary.
A pregnant female motorist was arrested yesterday in North Tipperary, following an incident at a Mandatory Intoxicant Checkpoint.
Gardaí observed a vehicle attempting to avoid the checkpoint. Members attached to Killaloe Garda Station stopped the car and spoke with the driver.
A roadside drug test returned a positive indication for cocaine. Checks also indicated the vehicle was uninsured.
The pregnant driver was arrested in connection with the alleged road traffic offences and was brought to Nenagh Garda Station. The vehicle was seized and enquiries are ongoing. The results of the blood sample are currently being awaited.
Find A Listening Ear & Practical Help.
At this time of year some people may be feeling overwhelmed, perhaps lonely, anxious, or are just simply not coping. Some of us have been in this position before so please don’t try to carry it on your own.
The helplines and services listed hereunder are there to listen and to help, whether you’re looking for emotional support, practical advice, or a first step towards getting the right care.
Reaching out can often feel difficult, but it’s a strong and positive move, and all of these services offer confidential, non-judgemental support for you or for someone you may be worried about.
Alone – 0818 222 024.
Aware – 1800 804 848.
Samaritans – 116 123.
Pieta House – 1800 247 247.
Age Action – 01 475 6989.
Irish Red Cross – 01 642 4600.
Citizens Advice – 0761 07 4000.
Alzheimer’s Society, Information and Emotional Help – 1800 341 341.
Exchange House, Traveller Mental Health Support – 01 872 1094.
Senior Line Friendly Listening Service – 1800 80 45 91.
Amen, Domestic Violence (male victims) – 046 902 3718.
Rape Crisis Centre, Crisis Helpline – 1800 778 888.
Mental Health Ireland, Mental Health Helpline – 01 284 1166.
If you feel that you (or someone else) may be at immediate risk of self harm, contact emergency services on 112 or 999 or go to your nearest emergency department.
* PAN Europe reports Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was detected in 81.8% of 66 cereal-based food samples across 16 European countries, with a peak reported value of 360 μg/kg in Irish-purchased breakfast cereals.
* No brand names are provided in the publicly available PAN Europe press materials with products described by category and country of purchase.
Read Full Report HERE
Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA-chemical formula CF3CO2H), a highly persistent “forever chemical” linked to the PFAS family, has been detected in a wide range of cereal-based foods purchased across Europe, according to findings published this month by Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe. Read Full Report.
These findings provide compelling evidence that TFA has become deeply embedded in the European diet, demanding urgent regulatory action, with PAN Europe calling for an immediate ban on PFAS pesticides, alongside a protective acceptable daily intake (ADI) that accounts for current toxicological uncertainties and vulnerable populations such as children, according to the precautionary principle. This should be complemented by EU-wide monitoring of TFA in food and the environment, as well as support for farmers to transition towards safer, non-synthetic crop protection methods.
PAN Europe said its investigation analysed 66 conventional cereal products bought in 16 European countries, including breakfast cereals, breads, pasta and flour. It reported TFA was detected in 81.8% (54/66) of samples, with an average concentration of 78.9 μg/kg and peak values up to 360 μg/kg.
Among the highest results cited by PAN Europe was 360 μg/kg in breakfast cereals purchased in Ireland, with other high readings reported in products such as Belgian wholemeal bread and French bakery items.
Important clarification: no product or supermarket brands are named.
While the findings have prompted significant public concern, sadly the published PAN Europe materials coverage fails to identify any specific product names or supermarket brands; only to some wheat-based breakfast cereals bought in Irish supermarkets noting that TFA was not detected in a popular brand of Irish porridge oats, without naming any brand.
PAN Europe’s press release similarly lists results by food type and country of purchase [for example, “breakfast cereals (purchased in Ireland)”] rather than naming retail products.
Regulatory debate and calls for monitoring.
PAN Europe argues the findings highlight the need for routine monitoring of TFA in food and water, the setting of a more protective safety limit, and a move to end sources of contamination including PFAS-related pesticides.
CropLife Europe, representing the pesticide industry, has responded that available assessments indicate no toxicological concern “under realistic conditions of exposure”, and is calling for a risk-based approach while EU assessment processes continue.
Unlike tobacco, whose harms are long-established, TFA is still moving through the EU classification system, a hazard-based step that does not, by itself, determine consumer risk, which depends on exposure.
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