The recall notice was quietly announced on a February afternoon. Not a siren. No news conference. This is merely a notice from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency warning parents not to use certain batches of infant formula made by Kendamil that are marked “with whole milk.” It had a significant impact on families who use formula daily.
Cereulide, a toxin generated by specific strains of Bacillus cereus, is at the heart of the problem. Most parents aren’t familiar with the term. Pediatricians, however, do. Cereulide is exceptionally heat-stable, so heating the bottle won’t make it ineffective. Within 30 minutes, even minor exposures can result in dehydration, nausea, and vomiting in infants.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Kendamil |
| Manufacturer | Kendal Nutricare Ltd. (U.K.) |
| Product Recalled | Kendamil Infant Formula “with whole milk” (1049 g) |
| Affected Lot Codes | 897274, 888632 |
| Manufacture Date | May 1, 2025 |
| Recall Date | February 22, 2026 |
| Retailer | Costco Canada (in-store & online) |
| Regulatory Authority | Canadian Food Inspection Agency |
| Reference | https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca |
In Canada, no illnesses have been reported. That is an important detail. However, the recall is still significant.
The 1,049-gram tins in question were manufactured in May 2025 and were only available for purchase at Costco stores across the country. Parents were instructed to look up the lot numbers 888632 and 897274 that were printed on the base. The best-before date is May 1, 2027. There may still be a lot of containers on kitchen counters with lids that snap shut after every feeding and scoops resting inside.
Action in another nation set off the recall. It’s a telling cross-border ripple.
Kendamil, which is marketed as being more in line with European standards, has developed an image of traditional whole-milk-based nutrition. Parents looking for alternatives to the established multinational formula giants began to favor the brand. During shortages, some parents once shared advice about where to find it outside big-box stores.
The company is now making what it refers to as a “precautionary withdrawal.”
Statements from the company suggest that there may have been a theoretical risk due to a brief change in the supplier of the omega-6 ingredient arachidonic acid oil. Health Canada uses a different criterion, but the batches are said to still meet European safety standards. Even though that detail is significant from a scientific standpoint, it might not be much consolation to a parent who is pacing at two in the morning next to a crying infant.
In the post-shortage era, it’s difficult to ignore how sensitive formula recalls feel.
North American formula shelves were left empty for weeks in 2022, revealing supply chain fragility. Since then, parents have become more vigilant than ever, closely examining production codes and expiration dates. Even in cases where no illnesses have been reported, a recall can cause a panic attack about what to feed the next morning or an impulsive run to the store.
Customers recently spent more time than usual near the baby aisle at a Costco warehouse outside of Toronto. Holding a tin and turning it over, one couple compared the numbers to a phone screen that showed the recall notice. Overhead, the fluorescent lights hummed. The cart remained motionless.
Food safety authorities are not unfamiliar with cerulide. In the past, it has been linked to dairy products and rice dishes that have been handled incorrectly. The consumer’s vulnerability is what makes infant formula unsettling. Babies are unable to express their symptoms. Dehydration can worsen rapidly.
However, the lack of disease reports indicates that either the systems are functioning properly or that the risk is actually low. Whether the contamination happened at trace levels or if the recall is a result of excessive regulatory caution is still unknown. When it comes to baby health, caution usually prevails.
A more general pattern is also becoming apparent. Several international formula manufacturers have experienced recalls in the last 12 months due to bacterial toxins or contamination issues. Globalized ingredient sourcing, enhanced testing, and heightened regulatory scrutiny could all be factors. It appears that investors now value transparency more than temporary harm to one’s reputation. Instead of indicating failure, a quick recall can indicate accountability.
Formula is more than a simple grocery item. It’s personal. Parents stand bleary-eyed, measuring powder by lamplight as it is mixed at kitchen counters. Before pediatric visits, it is placed in a diaper bag. It is frequently selected following thorough investigation, budgetary considerations, and brand comparisons.
It seems like parents are taking in implications as well as instructions as they watch this play out. Across continents, supply chains extend. During shortages, ingredient substitutions take place in silence. Each country has its own set of regulations.
The advice is simple for the time being: cease using the tins that are impacted, return them for a refund, and see a doctor if symptoms develop. Easy steps but essential ones.
But there is a more profound reminder hidden beneath the notice. Even goods made for the smallest of us are susceptible to disruption in this age of just-in-time logistics and global food production. In the end, the 2026 Kendamil formula recall might turn out to be a preventative measure rather than an emergency.
However, it feels personal to parents looking at lot numbers tonight, and rightfully so.