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Perceptions regarding infant formula in the context of the recall concerning Cereulide toxin

In January 2026, certain infant formula products were recalled in consultation with the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, after tests detected the toxin cereulide, a substance that can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea. In Flanders, eight infants fell ill. This incident caused concern among parents of young children. Official bodies, including Kind en Gezin and the Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain, stated that infant formula remains safe in general. At the same time, information of varying nature and reliability regarding this recall circulated on social media.

Using an online questionnaire, this study aims to investigate how Belgian parents of young infants perceive infant formula, how they experienced the provision of information regarding this recall, and to what extent this has influenced their behaviour.

Participants are invited to take part in this study if they are a parent or guardian of an infant aged between 0 and 2 years with Belgian nationality.

The questionnaire seeks to determine respondents' perceptions regarding infant formula, as well as their experiences with the communication surrounding the recent recall of certain baby foods. In addition, the survey includes questions about any changes in behaviour regarding their child’s feeding. Completing the questionnaire is estimated to take approximately 15 minutes. The questionnaire is available online via a secure platform and can be completed at a time of your choosing.

Privacy policy

This study (MP040707) has been drawn up following an evaluation by the EC Research Unit at UZ/KU Leuven.

➢ Your participation is voluntary; there is absolutely no compulsion whatsoever.

➢ The data collected as part of your participation is completely anonymous. By taking part in the study, you consent to the use of this data for the master’s thesis. No personal data such as name, date of birth, address, etc. will be collected. Your anonymity is guaranteed when the results are published.

➢ If you would like further information on how we use your anonymous data, or in the event of any problems, further questions or concerns, please contact the researcher (Dr Laure Mortelmans) via (laure.mortelmans@student.kuleuven.be) or by telephone on +32 472449362, and the principal investigator (Dr An Eerdekens) on +32 16 34 1825 (during working hours) or by email (an.eerdekens@kuleuven.be). The research centre’s Data Protection Officer is also at your disposal. The contact details for the latter are as follows: DPO – KU Leuven, email dpo@kuleuven.be

 
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