Taipei: Taiwan's Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) announced that Nestl© has preemptively recalled 83,496 cans of formula powder due to potential contamination with the toxin cereulide, amid a global recall of the food company's products.

According to Focus Taiwan, Nestl© Taiwan reported on Thursday that two batches of its products sold locally, the Illuma Infant Growth Formula (batch No. 51690017C1) and the Illuma Toddler Growth Formula (batch No. 51680017C2), might contain potentially contaminated ingredients. As a precautionary measure, the company has initiated voluntary recalls to ensure consumer health and safety, the TFDA mentioned in a statement.

The company has established a dedicated hotline for handling returns and exchanges, available at 0809-000-828. The TFDA has urged consumers who have purchased the affected products to cease consumption and return them promptly.

The agency confirmed that it has been actively monitoring global recall alerts and assured that the affected batches identified by international authorities have not been imported into Taiwan. It has also coordinated with the company's Taiwan branch to conduct an inventory check of all products imported into the country.

The toxin cereulide is known for being heat-resistant and is not easily destroyed through boiling or cooking. Ingesting the toxin may lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and abdominal bloating, as stated by the TFDA.

According to a statement on Nestl©'s global website, the toxin was found in the ingredient arachidonic acid oil, which is supplied by a major manufacturer. The company is currently collaborating with the manufacturer to determine the root cause of the contamination. The statement also noted that official recalls have been issued in over 40 countries globally.

Nestl© has stated that, to date, no illnesses have been confirmed in connection with their products.