Nestlé and Danone face microplastics scrutiny in baby food pouches

Nestlé's Gerber and Danone's Happy Baby Organics are facing a fresh crisis after Greenpeace discovered microplastic particles in every analysed sample of both brands' baby food products. The findings intensify pressure on the broader infant nutrition sector just months after both multinationals were embroiled in a toxin scare affecting their formula lines.

What the testing revealed

For every gram of baby food tested, researchers found up to 54 microplastic particles in Gerber pouches and up to 99 particles in Happy Baby Organics pouches, on average. The study estimated a total of more than 5,000 particles in each Gerber pouch and more than 11,000 particles in each Happy Baby Organics pouch.

The study also identified a range of plastic-associated chemicals present in both the packaging and the food, including the presence of a potential endocrine disruptor in the Gerber samples tested.

The packaging link

The study suggests a link between polyethylene, the plastic the pouches are lined with, and some of the microplastics found in the baby food tested. Greenpeace says the plastic packaging itself may be a source of contamination, potentially exposing babies to thousands of microscopic plastic fragments with every pouch consumed.

How the brands responded

Nestlé moved to reassure consumers, saying the company "takes [the concerns] seriously" and applies "strict controls across our manufacturing, including the rigorous selection and management of packaging materials." The Swiss multinational added that it "continuously monitors emerging science and regulatory guidelines, including on microplastics, to ensure its products meet all applicable food safety standards and regulatory requirements."

Danone was more guarded, saying it is aware of the report and that "Happy Baby pouches are designed and manufactured according to stringent quality and food safety standards." The French multinational also questioned the Greenpeace study, claiming "numerous flaws in the methodology" used for the research.

Context: the formula crisis

This scrutiny comes months after Nestlé and Danone, alongside Lactalis, faced fierce pressure over concerns that infant formula products contained the toxin cereulide. The matter sparked a global recall and damaged all three multinationals' reputations. Investigations into that contamination remain ongoing.

Pressure on packaging and trust

For the broader infant nutrition sector, the findings are likely to accelerate pressure on both packaging formats and transparency standards. Squeeze pouches have become popular with consumers for convenience, but questions around microplastic migration could push brands toward alternative materials or formats. Regulators may also face increased scrutiny to define clearer guidance on microplastics in food, particularly for vulnerable populations such as infants. In a category built on trust, emerging scientific uncertainty has the potential to reshape product development priorities.