France has tightened safety standards for infant milk after a wave of international recalls linked to a toxin found in baby formula ingredients, a move authorities say is

designed to better protect infants and reassure worried parents.

The French agriculture ministry announced on Saturday that it has lowered the permitted exposure limit for cereulide, a toxin that can cause nausea and vomiting, in infant formula. The new threshold is set at 0.014 micrograms per kilogram of body weight, down from the previous limit of 0.03 micrograms.

Cereulide was detected in ingredients originating from a factory in China that supplies several major baby formula manufacturers, including Nestlé, Danone and Lactalis. The discovery prompted product recalls across dozens of countries and sparked concern among families worldwide over the safety of infant nutrition products.

According to the ministry, France’s decision follows a European Union meeting held on January 28 and aligns with updated guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which is expected to be formally published on Monday. Officials warned that the stricter standard could result in additional product withdrawals in France in the coming days.

The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of the infant formula supply chain, showing how contamination of a single ingredient can ripple quickly across global markets despite stringent regulatory controls, triggering widespread recalls and consumer anxiety.

Meanwhile, French investigators are examining whether contaminated formula could be linked to the deaths of two infants, authorities said on January 23. The investigation remains ongoing.

Legal pressure is also mounting. On Thursday, consumer advocacy group foodwatch said it had filed a criminal complaint in Paris on behalf of eight families whose babies reportedly became ill after consuming affected products. The group alleges that manufacturers failed to alert the public quickly enough after becoming aware of the contamination.

As scrutiny intensifies, French authorities say the tougher limits are intended to restore trust and reinforce safeguards for the most vulnerable consumers. Photo by Jengod, Wikimedia commons.