Recalled infant milk: a third infant death reported in France, concern intensifies

French health authorities announced, Wednesday February 11, 2026, the death of a third infant who consumed infant milk affected by the vast wave of recalls in progress. If no causal link is established at this stage, the case takes on an unprecedented legal and health scale in Europe.

A worsening health crisis

The alert around contaminated infant milk reaches a new milestone. The Ministry of Health confirmed this Wednesday that a third infant death had been reported in a child who consumed a product subject to a recall. The authorities, however, point out that “to date, no attributability has been scientifically established” between the consumption of these milks and the deaths recorded.

In total, three judicial investigations are now open, in Angers, Bordeaux and Toulouse. At the same time, regional health agencies have identified around fifty reports, including 14 hospitalizations of infants who certainly or possibly consumed affected milk. Again, no direct link has yet been demonstrated.

Cereulide at the heart of massive recalls

This health affair has been going on since mid-December. It began with a recall of dozens of batches of infant milk by Nestlé, in nearly 60 countries, due to the potential presence of cereulide, a toxin produced by certain bacteria. Since then, a cascade of similar recalls has affected other giants of the sector, such as Danone and Lactalis, but also smaller players in a booming market.

At the beginning of February, European authorities lowered the tolerated thresholds for cereulide in infant formula, leading to a new wave of withdrawals. This toxin can cause severe vomiting, which is particularly dangerous in babies.

Justice, criticism and pressure on the State

Faced with the scale of the crisis, protest is being organized. The NGO Foodwatch and several families have taken legal action against the State and the manufacturers, whom they accuse of having delayed carrying out recalls and clearly informing the public. The Children’s Health Association denounces a situation “far from being under control” and speaks of a “time bomb”.

“We will probably never be able to prove, case by case, the link between each death and each box of milk, but leaving these products in circulation will cause other tragedies“, warns its president, Quentin Guillemain, who calls for an exhaustive reminder and reinforced communication for parents.

France is, at this stage, the only European country to have recorded deaths after proven consumption of the milks concerned. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have reported several dozen hospitalizations, without a cause and effect link having been established.

The results of the national health survey are now eagerly awaited, as pressure increases on public authorities and manufacturers to avoid new tragedies.