Scots mum says she can't believe she has been feeding baby contaminated milk

A mother from Cumbernauld whose baby fell ill has described the awful realisation that she may have been feeding him contaminated baby formula.

The UK Health Security Agency has said 36 infants have reported symptoms consistent with toxin poisoning, with seven cases in Scotland.

Manufacturers Nestle and Danone have recalled specific batches of their products due to the possible presence of the heat-resistant toxin, cereulide.

Koby and his mum Katie McConnell STV News

Koby is seven months old and needs to be tube-fed.

His mum says she is devastated to learn the SMA formula given to Koby may have been contaminated with the toxin that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Koby began showing symptoms in early January.

“It was within about 20-30 minutes of having the bottles, it was coming back up,” Katie McConnell told STV News.

“He was upset as well, but before, when he was being sick, he’d be sick and smile right after. With this, he was being sick and it was hurting his tummy.

Katie McConnell switched formula only to find that Aptamil had also been affected by a product recall. STV News

“I felt so guilty for keeping on feeding him all this feed. Even though I was thinking it’s not right, he’s got a sore stomach.

“I never thought it would be the milk.”

After reading about the SMA recalls, Katie switched to a different formula – Aptamil.

“Now batches of that have been recalled, which luckily haven’t been my batches,” she said.

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“It’s so worrying.”

The UK Health Security Agency has confirmed 36 cases of poisoning similar to Koby’s.

None of the infants, all around or under one, are reported to be gravely ill.

Last month, Nestle recalled more than 60 batches of its SMA formula due to concerns about the possible presence of cereulide.

Danone recalled one batch of Aptamil First Infant Formula due to the same toxin.

The contamination that led to both recalls is said to have originated from a shared, third-party ingredient supplier.

The Food Standards Agency has urged anyone with the affected products to stop using them, switch to an alternative and contact their GP or NHS 24 if their baby has already consumed the formula.

If the formula is prescribed, parents should speak to a pharmacist or doctors before changing.

Bacillus cereus is a spore-forming bacterium that can contaminate a range of food products and when allowed to grow, certain strains can produce the cereulide toxin, the UKHSA said.

Symptoms of Bacillus cereus food poisoning and cereulide toxin poisoning are most commonly vomiting but may include stomach cramping and diarrhoea.

Symptoms usually have a rapid onset between 15 minutes to up to six hours after ingestion.

They usually resolve within 24 hours providing there is no ongoing exposure to the toxin.

Ingestion of the toxin rarely causes more significant illness, however a “few” cases of liver or kidney injury, muscle breakdown and multi-organ failure have been reported, the UKHSA said.

Individuals at high risk of complications include young children and the immunocompromised.

The FSA is continuing to investigate the source of the contamination.

More detail about which batches have been recalled can be found on food.gov.uk or on the Nestle website.