Rich South Korean mothers panic over Aptamil baby milk formula recall in Europe
Parents fret over ‘Gangnam formula’, a brand associated with wealthy families, after French firm Danone recalled it over toxin fears
A precautionary recall of infant formula products in Europe has sent South Korean parenting communities into a frenzy, with online mum cafes and forums buzzing over fears that some popular imported brands may pose health risks to babies.
The recall involves certain batches of infant formula manufactured in Europe that may contain trace amounts of cereulide, a toxin produced by the foodborne bacterium Bacillus cereus. The toxin can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea, and is known to withstand heat during food processing.
France-based food giant Danone said last Friday that it initiated a precautionary recall in Europe of some batches of “Aptamil First Infant Formula 800g” after a supplier flagged potential contamination. According to the UK Food Standards Agency, the affected products were sold in several European countries, primarily during the summer months, with an expiration date of October 2026.
News of the recall quickly spread across South Korean parenting communities, where Aptamil has long been popular through overseas direct purchases and parallel imports.
“I already stocked up on 10 cans of Aptamil, and now I don’t know what to do,” said a mother of a three-month-old baby.
“This is basically my worst nightmare,” another parent said. “How can something like this happen with infant formula?”