Abbott Nutrition is voluntarily recalling three types of infant formula after four babies became sick with bacteria infections after consuming the products.
The recall, announced Thursday, is for select lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas that were manufactured at an Abbott facility in Sturgis, Michigan.
The Food and Drug Administration warned consumers not to use or purchase the formulas or certain powdered infant formula produced at the facility.
“The FDA is investigating complaints of four infant illnesses from three states,” the agency said in a statement on Thursday. “All four cases related to these complaints were hospitalized and Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one case.”
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Infants sick with Cronobacter sakazakii or salmonella
Three of the babies were sick with Cronobacter sakazakii and one had Salmonella Newport, the FDA said.
Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening sepsis infections or meningitis while salmonella can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever, according to the FDA.
“We deeply regret the concern and inconvenience this situation will cause parents, caregivers and health care professionals,” Joe Manning, Abbott executive vice president, nutritional products, said in a statement.
The FDA said it initiated an onsite inspection at the facility and findings to date include several positive “Cronobacter sakazakii results.”
“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, in a statement.
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Abbott recall: What products are recalled?
The products under recall include Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas. Check a multidigit number on the bottom of the container to know if your product is included:
- 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.
More information is available at Similacrecall.com where you can type in the code on the bottom of the package. You can also call 1-800-986-8540 and follow the instructions provided.
According to Abbott, no liquid formulas, powder formulas or nutrition products from other facilities are impacted by the recall. The recalled products were only manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, the company said.
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