Swiss Authorities Considered Seizing Danone Baby Milk Amid Contamination Fears

Swiss authorities were on the verge of seizing Danone baby milk products in February 2026 following the death of an infant in St. Gallen. The baby exhibited severe vomiting symptoms after consuming Danone's Aptamil formula, consistent with Cereulid poisoning, a toxin at the center of a global baby milk scandal.

Despite Danone recalling some affected Aptamil products in Switzerland on February 5, the specific batch consumed by the St. Gallen infant was not among them. This raised fears among authorities that contaminated infant formula might still be circulating. A crisis meeting was convened, during which representatives from the Federal Office of Public Health and Veterinary Affairs (BLV) demanded that Danone recall all products unless they could definitively prove they were free of Cereulid.

The Cantonal Laboratory Zurich, responsible for overseeing Danone, accused the company of failing to submit required analysis reports and other crucial information despite repeated requests. This lack of transparency fueled mistrust, culminating in an ultimatum: Danone had until 8 a.m. the following day to provide the necessary information, including whether the milk consumed by the St. Gallen baby was contaminated. The authorities warned that failure to comply would result in the seizure of products and public notification.

This standoff placed Switzerland on the brink of a supply shortage. Danone holds a near 50% market share in infant formula in Switzerland. Had the authorities followed through with their threat to confiscate Danone's products, Swiss supermarket shelves could have been left significantly depleted. The crisis meeting's minutes, obtained by "NZZ am Sonntag," reveal the gravity of the situation and the government's decisive stance against the food giant's perceived slow response.