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 recalling firm is Abbott Nutrition of Columbus, Ohio. The recalled product is Similac Alimentum Infant Formula that is packaged in 32 ounce re-closable plastic bottles. There are eight bottles in each case, and about 720 bottles are included in this recall. The Batch/Lot Number that is stamped on each bottle is 41740RH00. The product number that is printed on the label is 57512 And the Best By date is 06/01/23 (June 1, 2023). This infant formula was distributed in Michigan and … [Read more...]
Similac Infant Formula Recalled in Canada For Possible Cronobacter
Similac Infant Formula is being recalled in Canada for possible Cronobacter and Salmonella contamination. This recall was triggered by a consumer complaint, although no illnesses have been reported in Canada in connection with this problem. Shoppers Drug Mart is issuing the recall, since these products were recalled on February 17, 2022 and some units were sold online in error. The recalling firm is Abbott Nutrition. The recalled products are all powdered infant formula. They include Similac Advance Step 1 Milk-Based Iron-Fortified Infant Formula Powder sold in 964 gram packages. The UPC number is 0 55325 00163 8 and the codes are L28174SH0 and L36099SH0. Also recalled is Similac Advance Step 2 Milk-Based Iron-Fortified and Calcium-Enriched Infant Formula Powder, also sold in 964 … [Read more...]
Minnesota Offers Powdered Infant Formula Substitution Choices
The Minnesota Department of Health is offering powdered infant formula substitutions for WIC parents since the recall of Abbott Nutrition's products has limited choices. Those Abbott Nutrition products, which include various types of Similac, EleCare, and Alimentum formulas, were recalled in February 2022 after the FDA received reports of infants being sickened with Cronobacter infections. WIC, or Women, Infants and Children, is a special supplemental nutrition program that provides federal grants to states to help low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women and infants and children up to the age of five. WIC is located in hospitals, county health departments, clinics, and schools. Since the massive recall, parents have reported having difficulty … [Read more...]
FDA Responds to Apparent Shortages of Powdered Infant Formula
The FDA is responding to apparent shortages of powdered infant formula after the issues of Cronobacter contamination at Abbott Nutrition's facility that made Similac and other brands. The update states that before these products were voluntarily recalled because of reports of infant illnesses, there were supply chain issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. While Cronobacter was found in environmental samples at the Abbott facility, those samples did not match the isolates from two of the infant patients. And the patient isolates did not match each other. FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, M.D. said in a statement, "We recognize that many consumers have been unable to access infant formula and critical medical foods they are accustomed to using and are frustrated by their … [Read more...]
FDA Update on Similac Cronobacter Investigation Reveals No Match
The FDA has updated the Similac Cronobacter investigation and reports that there is no match between the environmental samples of Cronobacter found at Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan plant and the two patient samples the CDC received and tested. In all, four infants were sickened with Cronobacter infections after allegedly consuming powdered infant formula produced by Abbott Nutrition. Two infants who lived in Ohio died, although the FDA has not determined if Cronobacter had a role in those deaths. The FDA states, "Five environmental subsamples collected from the Sturgis, Michigan facility were positive for Cronobacter sakazakii; four were detected by the FDA and one was detected through firm-initiated testing. The positive Cronobacter sakazakii environmental samples at the … [Read more...]
CDC: Two Cronobacter Samples Not Closely Related to Swabs From Abbott
The CDC has found that two Cronobacter samples from infants are not closely related to environmental swabs that were taken by the FDA from the Abbott Nutrition facility in Michigan. Powdered infant formulas that have since been recalled were produced at that venue. This update, published on March 25, 2022, also found that bacteria from the two available samples are not closely related to each other. These conclusions come from whole genome sequencing conducted on the samples. FDA analysis is ongoing, and there is no word on whether or not samples from the other two patients have been analyzed with whole genome sequencing (WGS). The government is still recommending that parents not feed their infants recalled powdered formula made at that Michigan plant. The formula types that are … [Read more...]
Rep Krishnamoorthi Launches Inquiry Into FDA Similac Formula Response
Rep Krishnamoorthi launches inquiry into the FDA Similac powdered infant formula response after four infants were sickened and two died. Rep. Krishnamoorthi is the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy in the U.S. House of Representatives. A letter was sent requesting information about the FDA's alleged "delayed response" in addressing contaminated infant formula. The Chairman wrote, "FDA is tasked with protecting all Americans from life-threatening foodborne illness outbreaks, but fell short in protecting vulnerable infants from contaminated formula. FDA must do more to ensure no lives are lost, or babies sickened, due to delayed inspections and late consumer warnings." The Minnesota Department of health alerted the FDA in September 2021 that an infant's … [Read more...]
FDA Updates the Recalled Cronobacter Infant Formula Product List
The FDA has updated the recalled Cronobacter infant formula list with a full list of recalled products. In addition, they say that metabolic and other medical specialty infant formulas were produced at the same plant which made the recalled Similac PM 60/40, but those products were not recalled "because the FDA has determined that the risk of not having these specialty products available could significantly worsen underlying medical conditions. For many of these patients, the risk of life-threatening adverse events from restricted access to these critically needed products is likely greater than the risk from consuming products that have been produced at the facility." So far, at least four infants, who lived in Minnesota, Texas, and Ohio, have been diagnosed with Cronobacter … [Read more...]
FDA Removed a Salmonella Illness From Powdered Infant Formula Count
The FDA removed a Salmonella illness from the powdered infant formula case count, accord to an update issued for that agency's CORE Outbreak Investigation Table. The Table itself does not contain this information; it was sent in an email. Salmonella has been removed from the Pathogen column in that outbreak investigation. There are still four infants in the case count linked to Similac, EleCare, and Alimentum powdered infant formulas. Those infants are from Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. The two infants who lived in Ohio died, although the FDA is investigating to see if Cronobacter sakazakii contributed to those deaths. Two recalls have been issued for those infant formula products. The first, on February 17, 2022, was for Similac, EleCare, and Alimentum powdered infant formula with … [Read more...]
Similac Recall Includes Formula Made November 2020 to February 2022
Abbott Nutrition's recall of powdered infant formula includes Similac products made at the company's facility in Sturgis, MI over the 15-month period from November 1, 2020, to February 17, 2022, according to recall information the company provided to retailers. Because these dates are not mentioned in the company's public recall announcement, consumers may not be aware that formula they purchased for their infants more than a year ago is part of this recall. The length of the production window associated with the recall also raises questions about the results of the FDA's inspection of the plant. Abbott issued a recall for Similac, Alimentum, EleCare, and EleCare Jr on February 17, 2022, after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced an investigation of … [Read more...]
