Two Criminal Investigations Opened in France Following Infant Deaths Potentially Linked to Contaminated Nestlé Baby Milk

Two infants have died in France under circumstances possibly connected to contaminated Nestlé Guigoz infant formula, prompting authorities to launch criminal investigations in Bordeaux and Angers. The formula was recalled across about sixty countries, including France, due to contamination with Bacillus cereus bacteria producing the cereulide toxin, which can cause severe digestive issues.

The first case involves a baby born on December 25, 2025, who passed away on January 8, 2026, at Haut-Lévêque hospital in Pessac, near Bordeaux. Prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul confirmed the infant had consumed the recalled Guigoz formula between January 5 and 7. Concurrently, a second investigation was opened in Angers after the death of a 27-day-old girl on December 23, 2025. Her mother informed authorities she had used a recalled Guigoz milk can, making this a serious lead, though Prosecutor Eric Bouillard cautioned it is too early to definitively link the formula to the deaths.

French health officials have identified the contamination source as an ingredient from a Chinese supplier common to both Nestlé and Lactalis, which has also launched a recall of infant milk. Despite ongoing monitoring, there is no established causal link yet between the recalled products and the infants' deaths. Adding to concerns, France currently lacks a national reference laboratory to analyze powdered infant milk or infant stool samples to conclusively investigate contamination effects.

This situation has sparked public outrage regarding transparency and the adequacy of government and corporate responses. Critics accuse Nestlé, Lactalis, and Danone of insufficiently informing the public. Nestlé's CEO Philipp Navratil issued a public apology in mid-January addressing delays in handling the crisis.

Authorities emphasize that parents should strictly follow recall guidelines and avoid using the affected products while investigations continue. The national police, consumer protection agencies, and prosecutors are working to clarify the circumstances surrounding these tragic infant deaths, underscoring the serious nature of the ongoing investigations.