Kendamil Infant Formula Recalled Due to Cereulide Toxin Contamination

Source: Health Canada · Canada

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Kendal Nutricare Canada Ltd. has recalled specific batches of Kendamil Infant Formula sold at Costco due to the presence of cereulide toxin, which can cause rapid gastrointestinal illness.

What this Health Canada recall tells you, and what most readers miss

This notice was issued by Health Canada on February 23, 2026 and geographically references Canada. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken — "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to — Product & Food Recalls — determines the regulatory framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, recalls, evacuations) are available to affected individuals and who holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.

Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to read it as a data point about the issuing system: how quickly Health Canada detected the hazard, how precise the geographic or product-identifier scope is, and whether similar notices have clustered in the same category or region in the last 90 days. Cluster patterns frequently precede a broader regulatory action — a single localized Health Canada recall is isolated; three of them within a quarter often indicate a supply-chain, infrastructure, or seasonal driver that will keep producing notices until something structural changes.

For decision-making, Areazine pairs each alert with the original agency URL, the full agency name, and a timestamp so you can verify the notice against the primary source before acting on it. Tags on this item (recall, product-safety, infant-formula, Kendamil) map to related alerts in the same area of risk — browsing them together gives a clearer picture than any single notice alone, because the shape of an ongoing issue only becomes visible across multiple sequential alerts.

What Happened

Kendal Nutricare Canada Ltd. is recalling specific batches of Kendamil brand Infant Formula with whole milk from the marketplace due to the presence of cereulide toxin. Cereulide is a toxin produced by certain strains of Bacillus cereus. This toxin is highly heat stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking or the heat used when preparing infant formula for consumption.

Which Products Are Affected

The recall affects the following product sold exclusively at Costco Wholesale locations in Canada:

  • Brand: Kendamil
  • Product: Infant formula with whole milk - Milk based powder with iron
  • Size: 1049 g
  • UPC: 8 50045 23826 1
  • Affected Codes:
    • MANF: 2025 MA 01; BEST BEFORE: 2027 MA 01; Lot: L 897274 M 121
    • MANF: 2025 MA 01; BEST BEFORE: 2027 MA 01; Lot: L 888632 M 121

What You Should Do

Consumers should immediately check their pantries for the affected product codes. Do not consume, serve, use, sell, or distribute the recalled formula. Affected products should be thrown out or returned to the Costco location where they were purchased. If you believe someone became sick from consuming this product, contact a healthcare provider immediately. Symptoms of cereulide toxin ingestion typically begin rapidly and include nausea and vomiting.

Why This Matters

While there have been no reported illnesses associated with this product to date, the recall is significant because cereulide toxins are resistant to heat and pose a food safety risk to infants. This recall was triggered by a similar recall action in another country.

Source

Health Canada

Original source: Health Canada Official Notice ↗

All Product & Food Recalls →

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this Health Canada recall.

What is this Health Canada recall about?
Kendal Nutricare Canada Ltd. has recalled specific batches of Kendamil Infant Formula sold at Costco due to the presence of cereulide toxin, which can cause rapid gastrointestinal illness.
Which agency issued this alert?
This alert was issued by Health Canada. The original notice is available at the source link at the bottom of this article.
How severe is this alert?
This alert is classified as "high" severity. Take precautions and monitor for updates.
What area is affected?
This alert affects Canada. Check with Health Canada for the most current geographic scope.
Where can I find more Product & Food Recalls updates?
Browse the full Product & Food Recalls feed on Areazine at areazine.com/ca/recalls/ for the latest updates from Health Canada and other agencies.