The U.S Food and Drug Administration announced a national recall on baby formula amid a national strain in supply.
The FDA said it is working with Abbott Nutrition to initiate a recall of certain lots of Similac, Alimentum, and Elecare powdered infant formula following four infant illnesses from three states.
The FDA, along with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local partners are investigating the Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility, whose products can be found throughout the U.S, and were likely exported to other countries.
The four complaints were hospitalized in MN, OH, and TX with Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one case. Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections or meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine.
“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.”
​​Abbott's internal records "indicate environmental contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii and the firm’s destruction of product due to the presence of Cronobacter," the FDA said in a release
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.
According to the FDA, products that do not contain the information listed above are not impacted and do not include liquid formula products or any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas.
The Infant Nutrition Council of America, an industry trade group representing top formula makers, has cited general supply chain issues affecting all manufacturers. ​​According to market research firm IRI, stores' infant formula inventories in mid-January were down 17 percent from where they were in mid-February, just before the pandemic hit the U.S
In January, the New York Times reported that shortages were happening throughout the country, and the shortage is in part due to a shortage of ingredients and staff at work getting products on shelves.
