Trusted by Parents for Their Babies... "Gangnam Formula" Aptamil Recalled in UK Over Toxin Detection, Stirring Parenting Communities

Preventive Recalls Expand in UK and EU
Concerns Over Toxins Resistant to Heat
Ministry of Food and Drug Safety: "No Link to Domestic Products, Caution Advised for Direct Imports"

Some Aptamil products, which have gained popularity in Korea as "easily digestible German formula" and are often referred to as "Gangnam formula," have been recalled in the UK and Europe, leading to growing anxiety among domestic consumers.

On January 28, local media outlets such as The Independent reported that Danone had initiated a voluntary recall of certain "Aptamil First Infant Formula 800g" products produced in Ireland and distributed in the UK and some European countries since January 23. This action was taken due to concerns about possible contamination with cereulide, a toxin known to cause vomiting.

On the 26th, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety announced that after conducting a full inspection of 113 infant formula products distributed domestically, cereulide, a toxin known to cause vomiting, was not detected. The inspection covered a total of 113 products, including 56 domestically produced infant formulas and 57 imported infant formulas. Photo by Kang Jinhyung aymsdream@

Immediate Block in Overseas Markets Including Vietnam: "Proactive Measures for Infant Foods"

Previously, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland recommended Danone take preventive action regarding the potential presence of cereulide, and on January 24, the UK Food Standards Agency issued an official statement advising against feeding the 800g product with an expiration date of October 31, 2026, to infants and young children. Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of the foodborne bacterium Bacillus cereus, which is highly heat-resistant and therefore not easily eliminated during processing. It is known to rapidly cause acute gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea if ingested.

Aptamil products recalled overseas, including the UK.

As the affected product has been distributed to multiple countries, authorities worldwide are on high alert. On January 25, the Vietnam Food Administration sent an official letter to local health authorities instructing them to strengthen monitoring and precautions regarding the Aptamil 800g infant formula. Foreign media reported, "In the case of infant food, even if there are no reported cases of actual harm, the recent trend in European food safety policy is to initiate preemptive recalls based solely on potential risks."

"Aptamil Distributed Domestically Is Safe"  Caution Advised for Directly Imported Products 

In Korea, Aptamil has consistently been consumed, primarily through direct overseas purchases, so news of the recall has quickly spread concerns, especially among parenting communities and online forums. Posts such as "I'm double-checking the lot number" and "I'm considering switching formula because of this" have been appearing in these communities.

As the controversy grew, Danone Nutricia Korea, the official domestic distributor of Aptamil, issued a notice on January 27 stating, "All Aptamil products officially distributed in Korea are clearly distinguished from the recalled overseas products by manufacturing number and production line," and emphasized, "These are safe products that meet the standards of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety." Danone further explained, "This recall is a preventive measure taken proactively in response to regulatory changes in certain countries," and stressed, "To date, there have been no reports of quality or safety issues in Korea."

Danone Nutricia Korea, the official domestic distributor of Aptamil, clarified through a notice on the 27th that this incident is unrelated to the domestic products. Danone Nutricia Korea

The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has also launched an investigation. On January 26, the ministry announced that after conducting a comprehensive inspection of 113 infant formula products distributed domestically, cereulide, the toxin known to cause vomiting, was not detected. The inspection covered 56 domestically produced infant formulas and 57 imported formulas, totaling 113 products. The ministry stated, "Recently recalled infant formulas such as those from Nestle, Lactalis, and Sanulac, due to possible raw material quality defects in Europe and elsewhere, have not been officially imported into Korea," and added, "If these products are reported for import in the future, they will be rejected."

However, there remains a possibility that infant formulas currently being recalled in Europe could enter the Korean market through direct overseas purchases. In response, the ministry has requested online platforms such as Naver Shopping, Auction, and eBay, as well as proxy purchasing agencies, to suspend the sale and proxy purchasing of these formula products. Additionally, consumers have been urged to refrain from purchasing these products through overseas websites.