All batch codes, UPCs, and regulatory details below are verified against official CFIA and FDA sources. Last updated: May 12, 2026.
Kendamil Recall 2026 — Quick-Check: Is Your Tin Affected?
The batch code is in raised lettering on the bottom of the tin. If you see either of these codes, your product is part of the recall:
If you see a different code — you're fine. The recall is limited to these two specific batches.
Full product data
| Product | Kendamil Infant Formula with Whole Milk (milk-based powder with iron) |
| Size | 1.049 kg |
| UPC | 850045238261 |
| Costco Item # | 1906402 |
| Affected batch codes |
L 897274 M 121 and L 888632 M 121
|
| Best before date | 2027 MA 01 (May 1, 2027) |
| Manufactured date | 2025 MA 01 (May 1, 2025) |
| Reason | Potential presence of cereulide toxin |
| Where sold | Costco warehouses across Canada & Costco.ca; also listed on Amazon Canada during the affected period |
| Illnesses reported | None as of recall date |
| Markets affected | Canada only — US market NOT affected |
What to Do If You Have an Affected Batch
Finding out your formula is part of a recall is stressful. Here's the exact sequence:
- Stop feeding immediately Don't finish the tin. Kendamil cereulide contamination involves a heat-stable toxin — boiling water during preparation will not destroy it.
-
Verify your batch code Only batches
L 897274 M 121andL 888632 M 121are included. Every other lot is unaffected. - Return for a full refund Take the tin to any Costco warehouse. No receipt required for this specific return. Questions? Call Kendal Nutricare Canada directly: 1-888-562-4898.
- Watch for symptoms Cereulide ingestion typically produces symptoms — nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal distress — within 30 minutes to 5 hours. If you see these signs, contact your doctor immediately and provide the specific batch code.
- Don't switch abruptly If you need an alternative, talk to your pediatrician before making a sudden change. An abrupt switch can cause its own digestive disruption. For vetted alternatives, our Kendamil formula collection shows current in-stock options, and our Stage 1 collection covers age-appropriate alternatives.
Why This Recall Happened: The 2025–2026 Industry-Wide ARA Oil Issue
This is the context most headlines miss. The Kendamil recall in 2026 was not caused by a failure at Kendamil's manufacturing facility. It was a downstream consequence of an industry-wide supply chain problem involving ARA oil, a source of Omega-6 fatty acid used by multiple formula manufacturers globally.
The contamination source was Cabio Biotech, a Chinese ARA oil supplier. When cereulide was detected in batches using this supplier's ingredient, it triggered a chain reaction across the industry. Nestlé, Danone, Aptamil, and others issued precautionary recalls due to the same root cause. This was Nestlé's largest voluntary infant formula recall, affecting 50+ countries.
Here's the detail that matters for how you think about Kendamil specifically: Kendamil's own laboratory testing showed that the affected batches met European safety standards for cereulide levels. The Canada recall happened because Health Canada applies a stricter regulatory threshold than the EU baseline. On February 2, 2026, new global guidance set an action limit of 0.43 ng/g for cereulide in infant formula.
Kendamil chose to follow the stricter Canadian standard rather than argue that their own tests passed elsewhere. That's a meaningful distinction. This was a brand being more cautious than technically required, not a brand caught hiding a contamination problem.

Which Kendamil Product Lines Were Affected?
Parents often search for specific lines — Kendamil organic formula recall, Kendamil goat formula recall, and toddler options. Here's the complete and accurate breakdown:
-
Kendamil Infant Formula with Whole Milk (1.049 kg)Affected Costco Canada only. Specifically, the large-format tin sold at Costco Canada warehouses and Costco.ca, in the two batch codes listed above.
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Kendamil OrganicNo recall Uses a different supply chain and was not involved in the ARA oil issue. Kendamil Organic remains unaffected and in stock.
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Kendamil GoatNo recall Goat milk formulas use different ingredients and remain completely safe throughout 2026.
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Kendamil Toddler / Stage 3No recall Was not part of the affected production run. Stage 3 options are unaffected.
Has Kendamil Ever Been Recalled Before? Historical Recalls Through 2026
Has Kendamil ever been recalled — here's the honest, complete answer:
- February 22, 2026 (Canada)Precautionary The Kendamil formula recall described in full above. Two batch codes, one Costco Canada product size, no reported illnesses. Part of the industry-wide ARA oil supply issue.
- November 21, 2025 (UK)Retailer compliance This was a retail removal, not a manufacturer safety recall. B&M stores pulled certain batches of Kendamil First Milk Ready To Feed (250 ml) after they were found on shelves past their expiry date — a retailer compliance issue, not a product contamination issue.
That's the complete Kendamil recall history. Compared to other major formula manufacturers — including the 2022 Abbott/Similac Cronobacter crisis that triggered the US formula shortage and the ByHeart botulism recall of December 2025 — Kendamil's record reflects a brand that responds to external supply chain issues quickly and transparently, rather than one with systemic manufacturing hygiene problems.
How to Stay Updated on Kendamil and Other Formula Recalls
Is Kendamil safe right now? Yes — for all products except the two specific batch codes listed above, which should already be off the shelves. For ongoing monitoring:
-
FDA Recall Alerts (US). Sign up at
fda.gov— how you find out if any Kendamil recall hits the US market. -
CFIA Recall Alerts (Canada). Visit
recalls-rappels.canada.ca. Canadian food recalls are posted within hours of announcement. -
Food Standards Agency (UK).
food.gov.ukfor UK-specific alerts. -
Manufacturer contact. Kendal Nutricare Canada:
1-888-562-4898. - Our recall tracker. We update our formula recall tracker page within 24–48 hours of any new safety announcement across HiPP, Holle, Kendamil, Bobbie, Enfamil, Similac, and others — single verified reference.
Kendamil Recall FAQ: Quick Answers to Parents' Most Common Questions
Does the 2026 Kendamil recall affect formula sold in the US?
No. The Kendamil Canada recall was strictly limited to Costco Canada warehouses and Costco.ca. US-market Kendamil products are not affected.
Is Kendamil safe to use after this recall?
Yes — for all products except the two specific batch codes. Verify your tin's code against L 897274 M 121 and L 888632 M 121. If it doesn't match, continue feeding normally.
Is Kendamil Organic or Goat affected?
No. The Kendamil formula recall applies only to the Classic Whole Milk 1.049 kg format at Costco Canada. Organic, Goat, and Toddler lines are unaffected.
What is cereulide, and is it dangerous?
Cereulide is a toxin produced by Bacillus cereus bacteria. It is heat-stable — standard formula preparation does not neutralize it. Symptoms (nausea, vomiting, gastrointestinal distress) typically appear within 30 minutes to 5 hours of ingestion.
My baby drank from an affected tin — what should I do?
Stop feeding immediately. Monitor for nausea, vomiting, and gastrointestinal distress. Contact your pediatrician and provide the specific batch code from your tin.
Can I still trust Kendamil?
The Kendamil recall 2026 was precautionary, traced to a third-party supplier issue affecting multiple global manufacturers, involved zero reported illnesses, and prompted Kendamil to apply the stricter Canadian standard even though its own tests met European thresholds.
Final Thoughts: Understanding the Kendamil Recall in Context
The Kendamil recall 2026 is a reminder that infant formula exists within a global supply chain — and that supply chains have vulnerabilities that no single manufacturer fully controls. That's not a comfortable fact, but it's an honest one.
What matters is what brands do when those vulnerabilities surface. Kendamil issued a precautionary recall before any illness was reported, followed the stricter Canadian regulatory standard, and cooperated fully with Health Canada. Two batch codes, one product, zero reported illnesses, prompt action.
