The FDA has issued updated compliance for infant formula after the disastrous shutdown of Abbott Nutrition for cronobacter contamination in 2022 that caused severe shortages. The press release states that, “This effort is part of the FDA’s ongoing commitment to strengthen the safety, resiliency, and oversight of the infant formula industry.” The FDA released its … Read more
The Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) is recommending that cronobacter be added to the list of notifiable pathogens reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is notable, since this pathogen, which can be deadly to infants, has not been tracked and is not reportable except in two states: Minnesota … Read more
The FDA has released a national strategy to increase the resilience of the infant formula market in the United States. Last year, cronobacter illnesses among some infants led to the inspection of Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan plant where problems were found, including multiple swabs indicating cronobacter contamination. Many recalls were issued and the plant was … Read more
The FDA is calling for enhanced safety steps in powdered infant formula in the wake of the cronobacter crisis in that industry in 2022. Back then, Abbott Nutrition had to close their plant in Sturgis, Michigan that manufactured that formula after cronobacter contamination was found. The whole issue started when four infants were sickened and … Read more
According to news reports, the Department of Justice has started a criminal investigation into Abbott Laboratories in relation to the cronobacter contamination at the Abbott plant that caused a shutdown last year and the resulting baby food supply crisis that triggered a severe shortage of powdered baby formula. Cronobacter can cause serious illness in infants … Read more
Abbott Nutrition is recalling certain bottles of ready to feed liquid infant formula because a small percentage of those products, which are less than 1% of the recalled amount, have bottle caps that may not have sealed properly. That could result in spoilage and could cause symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. The recalled product … Read more
Similac Alimentum Infant Formula is being recalled for a possible packaging defect. This recall notice was posted on the FDA’s Enforcement Report web page on September 7, 2022, and is not on the usual FDA recall page, so we do not know if any adverse events have been reported to the company to date. The … Read more
The FDA is developing a new framework for expanded access to infant formula options for parents and caregiver in the wake of the Abbott Nutrition plant shutdown after Cronobacter contamination was found this spring. In May 2022, the FDA issued guidance that the agency was going to temporarily exercise enforcement discretion on a case-by-case basis … Read more
The FDA is investigating another infant Cronobacter illness and death, according to a news update about the issue of Abbott Nutrition’s Cronobacter contamination problem. The news is contained at the end of the news release. The statement says that the FDA has reviewed and investigated a total of 129 complaints associated with Abbott Nutrition powdered … Read more
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) is demanding accountability in the powdered infant formula crisis. After four infants were sickened with Cronobacter infections starting in September 2021, the FDA conducted an inspection at the Abbott Nutrition Sturgis, Michigan plant and found environmental contamination with that pathogen. The patient isolates did not match the environmental samples, but the plant … Read more