Total recall with Nestlé and food safety

These grey days of January lead me to do things like sort out my cutlery drawers and remove duplicated tools. I don’t think we need six bottle openers, but six we do have, one of which is a Flemish joke one with a little duck carved on it. We did acquire it in Antwerp, as I recall.

Anyway, it is a delightful thing to open a drawer and put my hand on the correct tool and in the right place. I have many more drawers to sort out, but the kitchen is nearly done. We also have all up to date food items in those cabinets and drawers now, and any ones of historical interest are now goner.

Nestlé made the news for the wrong reasons last week as it voluntarily recalled batches of SMA infant and follow-on formula on a global scale, due to the possible occurrence of cereulide toxin in some batches. As you may know, the toxin may cause nausea, vomiting and abdominal cramps. In a way, the gravity of the situation is being pre-empted by Nestlé’s quick move to sort the issue out. Infant nutrition can be a lightning rod for bad news, for very obvious reasons.

Speaking of food and nutrition, the new US dietary guidelines are out, and it’s good news for dairy in America. As Michael Dykes, president and CEO of the US International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) says, “The new dietary guidelines send a clear and powerful message to Americans: dairy foods belong at the centre of a healthy diet. IDFA applauds the Department of Health and Human Services and the US Department of Agriculture for grounding the 2025-2030 DGA in today’s nutrition science, including the evidence showing that dairy products at all fat levels support healthy eating patterns. Recommending the consumption of whole and full-fat dairy products such as whole milk, yogurt, cheese, and other dairy products is an important victory for consumer choice and public health.”

The US food system has some issues but the inclusion of dairy is not one of them. Safe, nutritious and affordable – that’s our global motto.

• Suzanne Christiansen, editor, Dairy Industries International.
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