The Vietnam Food Administration (Ministry of Health) has issued an urgent directive to provincial authorities to monitor and recall specific batches of infant formula intended for children aged 0-12 months. This action aims to mitigate potential health risks following international alerts regarding bacterial toxin contamination.
Cause and characteristics of the toxin The recall was prompted by the discovery of cereulide toxins in several batches of a2 Platinum Premium USA formula. This toxin, produced by Bacillus cereus, possesses hazardous traits:
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Heat resistance: The toxin is heat-stable and cannot be eliminated by the hot water used for formula preparation.
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Health impact: Ingesting contaminated formula can trigger nausea and vomiting within 30 minutes to 6 hours. Although symptoms may subside within 24 hours, infants remain at high risk for severe dehydration, requiring medical attention.
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Contamination source: Preliminary assessments suggest the bacteria may have originated from arachidonic acid (ARA) oil, a common ingredient in infant formula.
Affected batches and procedural measures The targeted batches (metal tin packaging circulated in the U.S.) include:
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Lot 2210269454: Expiry date July 15, 2026.
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Lot 2210324609: Expiry date January 21, 2027.
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Lot 2210321712: Expiry date January 15, 2027.
Regulatory actions and consumer guidance Importers are required to provide comprehensive reports on inventory and sales by May 18. Additionally, e-commerce platforms and retail websites have been ordered to remove listings and cease transactions for the affected products. Parents are strongly advised to stop using these specific batches immediately and seek medical assistance if their child exhibits any abnormal symptoms.
Source: https://vnexpress.net/bo-y-te-yeu-cau-thu-hoi-khan-cap-sua-bot-tre-em-a2-nhiem-doc-to-5069880.html