According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration report, the baby food plant behind Abbott Nutrition’s recent baby formula recall was “unsanitary.” The FDA also stated that Abbott failed to maintain sanitary procedures and conditions at their Michigan manufacturing plant. This unsanitary condition has been linked to several cases of infant illnesses. These allegations were published […]
According to a U.S. Food and Drug Administration report, the baby food plant behind Abbott Nutrition’s recent baby formula recall was “unsanitary.” The FDA also stated that Abbott failed to maintain sanitary procedures and conditions at their Michigan manufacturing plant. This unsanitary condition has been linked to several cases of infant illnesses. These allegations were published last Tuesday by the FDA’s federal safety inspectors.
The U.S. FDA has published its initial inspection discoveries from the Abbott plant tied to numerous infant hospitalizations and deaths caused by a rare bacterial infection. Abbott has recalled several lots of three powdered infant formulas last February after reports of four infants reportedly becoming ill and being hospitalized. The baby formula recall was extended in March to include certain lots of “Similac PM 60/40 Powdered Instant Formula.” According to FDA inspectors, they have been inspecting the Sturgis, Michigan, facility since January.
According to the FDA inspection, Abbott failed to maintain clean surfaces while manufacturing and handling the infant formula powder. Further, FDA inspectors discovered a history of cronobacter bacteria contamination between the fall of 2019 and February of 2022. The FDA’s announcement states that the agency issued a formal warning to the company.
Food safety advocates believe that FDA and Abbott Nutrition have not been able to explain how the contamination happened at the plant. Sarah Sorscher, with the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said that the FDA’s report and company documents do not answer all of the important questions, and Abbott and the FDA must find out what happened to prevent future outbreaks.
Abbott stated that it was “taking this very seriously and working closely with the FDA to implement corrective actions.”
However, Abbott has not reported how which units have been recalled. The recall affects some of the best-selling infant formulas in the world, such as Alimentum, EleCare, and Similac. Abbott states that it is continuing to manufacture powdered infant formula at its other plants.
Cronobacter bacterial infections are rare but could be fatal in babies.
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