FDA warns consumers not to use certain powdered infant formula
Product was produced in Abbott Nutrition’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has alerted consumers to avoid purchasing or using certain powdered infant formula products produced in Abbott Nutrition’s facility in Sturgis, Michigan. This is an ongoing investigation, and Abbott has initiated a voluntary recall of the potentially affected product.
The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:
The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2; and
The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
“As this is a product used as the sole source of nutrition for many of our nation’s newborns and infants, the FDA is deeply concerned about these reports of bacterial infections,” said Frank Yiannas, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response. “We want to reassure the public that we’re working diligently with our partners to investigate complaints related to these products, which we recognize include infant formula produced at this facility, while we work to resolve this safety concern as quickly as possible.”
Products made at the Sturgis, Michigan facility can be found across the U.S. and were likely exported to other countries.
Products that do not contain the information listed above are not impacted. The FDA advisory does not include liquid formula products or any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas. Consumers should continue to use all products not covered by the advisory.
To date, this investigation has been associated with four illnesses (three for Cronobacter and one for Salmonella) spanning the following states: MN, OH and TX. All four cases related to these complaints were hospitalized and Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one case.
Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine). Symptoms of sepsis and meningitis may include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths and abnormal movements. Cronobacter infection may also cause bowel damage and may spread through the blood to other parts of the body.
Parents and caregivers of infants who have used these products, and are concerned about the health of their child, should contact their child’s health care provider. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should notify your child’s healthcare provider and seek medical care for your child immediately.
Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. Most people with salmonellosis develop diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases, may become fatal.
Parents and caregivers should never dilute infant formula and should not make or feed homemade infant formula to infants.
If your regular formula is not available, contact your child’s healthcare provider for recommendations on changing feeding practices.
The FDA is continuing to investigate and will provide additional consumer safety information when it becomes available.
Alternative formula use
Individuals should not use recalled infant formula and contact their health care provider for guidance on alternative infant formula use.
If you are a Florida Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program participant, do not use the recalled infant formula and do not discard or throw it out. Impacted Florida WIC Program participants should contact their local WIC office for information on how to return recalled infant formula for alternative replacements.
The Florida Department of Health is also reaching out to Florida WIC Program participants.
Contact information for local WIC offices can be found here or by calling 1-800-342-3556.
Source: Florida Department of Health