Kendamil Infant Formula Recall: Costco Baby Formula Pulled Over Deadly Cereulide Toxin — What Parents Must Do Now

The Kendamil infant formula recall is breaking news every parent in Canada needs to see immediately. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued a formal food recall warning on February 22, 2026, pulling Kendamil brand Infant Formula with whole milk from the marketplace due to cereulide toxin contamination. The recall carries CFIA Recall Class 2 classification and Identification Number RA-81636. The recalled Kendamil infant formula was sold at Costco stores nationwide and online across Canada. This is the most urgent infant formula safety warning issued in Canada in 2026 — and with no antidote to cereulide toxin available, the stakes for affected families could not be higher.

Kendamil Infant Formula Recall: Exactly Which Product Is Affected

The one-kilogram containers of Kendamil brand infant formula that say “with whole milk” on the label may contain cereulide toxin, which can quickly cause nausea and vomiting. Here is the complete product identification information parents need to check right now:

Detail
Information

Brand
Kendamil

Product name
Infant Formula with Whole Milk

Container size
1 kilogram

Label identifier
“With whole milk” printed on label

Where sold
Costco stores nationwide and online

Distribution
National — all Canadian provinces

Recall class
Class 2

CFIA ID
RA-81636 / CFIA ID 17203

Recall date
February 22, 2026

Recalling firm
Kendal Nutricare Canada Ltd.

What Is Cereulide Toxin — and Why It Cannot Be Destroyed

Cereulide is a toxin produced by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Cereulide is highly heat stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by cooking or when preparing infant formula for consumption. Symptoms typically begin rapidly after ingestion and most often involve gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. This is the critical danger point of the Kendamil infant formula recall — the toxin is not destroyed by heat and can survive temperatures that would usually kill bacteria. Boiling water, standard sterilization procedures, and normal formula preparation methods offer no protection once cereulide contamination is present in a product.

What Caused the Kendamil Infant Formula Contamination

European-based company Kendal Nutricare said cereulide has been recently associated with arachidonic acid oil — a source of Omega 6 — and that during a short supply disruption, the company used a different oil supply than usual for two batches of infant formula sold at Costco in Canada. The contamination is therefore traced to a specific ingredient substitution during a supply chain disruption — not a systemic manufacturing failure. This recall was triggered by a recall in another country. Nestlé and Danone recently issued baby formula recalls due to the possible contamination of the same cereulide toxin — confirming this is a broader global ingredient supply chain crisis affecting multiple major formula manufacturers simultaneously.

No Reported Illnesses — But Action Is Urgently Required

There have been no reported illnesses in Canada associated with the consumption of this recalled Kendamil infant formula product. The absence of confirmed cases does not reduce the urgency. Cereulide toxin acts rapidly after ingestion — symptoms can begin within 30 minutes to 6 hours. Because infants cannot communicate distress and are entirely dependent on formula as their sole nutrition source, the CFIA is emphatic: do not wait for symptoms to act.

What Parents Must Do Right Now

The CFIA is clear — do not consume, use, sell, serve, or distribute the recalled Kendamil infant formula. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the location where they were purchased. If you think you became sick from consuming a recalled product, contact your healthcare provider immediately.

The immediate action checklist for every parent who purchased Kendamil infant formula at Costco or online:

• Stop using the product immediately — do not finish the current container
• Check the label — look for “with whole milk” on the 1-kilogram container
• Do not attempt to boil or heat-treat the formula — cereulide toxin survives standard temperatures
• Return the product to Costco for a full refund — no receipt required for recalled products
• Contact your pediatrician if your infant has shown any signs of vomiting or nausea
• Call Kendal Nutricare Canada Ltd. via WhatsApp at +44 1539 480002 or email [email protected]
• Contact the CFIA for public enquiries at 1-613-773-2342 or [email protected]

The Bigger Picture: A Global Infant Formula Safety Crisis in 2026

The Kendamil infant formula recall is not an isolated incident. The CFIA has confirmed it is conducting a full food safety investigation which may lead to the recall of other products, and is verifying that industry is removing recalled products from the marketplace. The shared ARA oil ingredient link connecting Kendamil, Nestlé, and Danone recalls signals that regulators in Canada, Europe, and potentially the United States will need to scrutinize the global arachidonic acid oil supply chain with urgency. Parents using any infant formula — regardless of brand — are encouraged to monitor CFIA recall alerts at recalls-rappels.canada.ca and consult their pediatrician if they have any concerns about their infant’s formula or health.