The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a food recall on some nutritional formula manufactured by Abbott in Sturgis, Michigan, due to consumer complaints of Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella Newport infections in infants after consumption. 

 

Specifically, The FDA is advising consumers NOT USE the Similac brand POWDER formulas including Alimentum and EleCare infant formulas 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. 

 

To determine whether your formula has been affected by this recall, use the following link: https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html. 

 

The following formulas NOT subject to this recall are: Isomil, Neosure, and the liquid concentrated and ready-to-feed Similac products. 

 

Products that do not contain the information listed above are not impacted. The FDA advisory does not include liquid concentrated or ready-to-feed formula products or any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas. Consumers should continue to use all products not covered by the advisory. 

 

The FDA is investigating complaints of four infant illnesses from three states. All four cases related to these complaints were hospitalized and Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one case. The FDA has initiated an onsite inspection at the facility. Findings to date include several positive Cronobacter sakazakii results from environmental samples taken by the FDA and adverse inspectional observations by the FDA investigators. A review of the firm’s internal records also indicate environmental contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii and the firm’s destruction of product due to the presence of Cronobacter. 

  

District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) currently has over 1,100 clients within their Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program that could be impacted by this recall. 

 

“We are working very closely with State WIC Program officials to resolve this emergent situation,” stated Anne M. Bianchi, DHD#10 WIC Program Director. “DHD#10 staff is currently assisting clients to locate alternative formulas and resources until a state-wide solution is put in place.” 

 

Until further notice, please consider the following guidance: 

 

• To determine whether your formula has been affected by this recall, use the following link: https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html. 
• Abbott has Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) regarding the recall here: https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/faq.html.  
• The following formulas NOT subject to this recall are: Isomil, Neosure and the liquid concentrated and ready-to-feed Similac products. 
• The recalled powdered infant formulas have the potential to be contaminated with Cronobacter, a bacterium that can cause severe foodborne illness primarily in infants. Cronobacter infections are rare but are especially high risk for newborn infants. Per CDC guidance, the first symptoms are fever accompanied by poor feeding, crying or very low energy. For more information check the CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/cronobacter/infection-and-infants.html. 
• 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. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include a high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, a rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases, may become fatal.  
• Parents and caregivers of infants who have used these products, and are concerned about the health of their child, should contact their child’s health care provider. If your child is experiencing any of these symptoms, you should notify your child’s healthcare provider and seek medical care for your child immediately 
• Parents and caregivers should never dilute infant formula and should not make or feed homemade infant formulas to infants. 
• If your formula is one that is recalled, consider breastfeeding or using an equivalent store/generic brand formula or Enfamil product. 
• Infant formulas can be purchased with SNAP/ Food Stamp benefits. 

 

The FDA is continuing to investigate and will provide additional consumer safety information when it becomes available. 

 

For Abbott’s press release, please follow this link: https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2022-02-17-Abbott-Voluntarily-Recalls-Powder-Formulas-Manufactured-at-One-Plant.