Similac Recall: 1 Infant Death, Illnesses Linked To Baby Formula

ACROSS AMERICA — One infant has died and two others have been hospitalized with rare cronobacter illnesses that may be linked to Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered baby formulas sold nationwide, food safety regulators said Thursday in an urgent warning to parents.

Also Thursday, Abbott Nutrition said it is voluntarily recalling the affected products — produced at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant — after consumer complaints to the FDA. A fourth infant disagnosed with a salmonella newport illness was also fed formula produced at the plant, the Food and Drug Administration said.

Though rare, cronobacter illnesses are often deadly to young infants, especially in the first days or weeks of life.

“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,” Frank Yiannas, FDA deputy commissioner for Food Policy and Response, said in a news release.

Specifically, don’t use Similac, Alimentum or EleCare powdered infant formula 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.

Other products under those brands that do not have that information aren’t affected by the recall. Liquid formulas and metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas sold under those brands are safe to use, the FDA said. Abbott Nutrition has set up a resource page for parents who have purchased the affected products.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state and local health agencies are assisting the FDA in the on-site inspection after reported illnesses in three states: Minnesota, Ohio and Texas.

Abbott said in its notice of the voluntary recall that it is cooperating in the investigation. The company said it routinely tests for pathogens in its manufacturing facilities, and that the cronobacter bacteria was found in “non-product contact areas.”

The company said no evidence of salmonella newport was found in the Sturgis plant.

“Importantly, no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of either of these bacteria, and we continue to test,” the company said.

Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening sepsis or meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes protecting the brain and spine. Symptoms of both include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths and abnormal movements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Cronobacter infection may also cause bowel damage and may spread through the blood to other parts of the body.

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, and more severe cases may include such symptoms as a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool. In some cases, salmonella illnesses can be fatal.