FDA Investigation of Cronobacter and Salmonella Complaints: Powdered Infant Formula (February 2022)

Outbreak Investigations & Safety Advisories Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition  The following is an update from FDA of concern to our subscribers. FDA Investigation of Cronobacter and Salmonella Complaints: Powdered Infant Formula (February 2022) February 25, 2022 The FDA, along with CDC and state and local partners are investigating four consumer complaints of infant illness, received from 9/20/2021 to 1/11/2022, related to products from Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, MI facility. All of the ill patients are reported to have consumed powdered infant formula (IF) produced from Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, MI facility. These complaints include three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one report of Salmonella Newport infection in infants. All four illnesses related to these complaints resulted in hospitalization and Cronobacter may have contributed to a death in one ill patient. As a result of the ongoing investigation, Abbott Nutrition has recalled certain powdered infant formula products and the FDA is advising consumers not to use recalled Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas produced in the Sturgis, MI facility. We recognize that the Abbott Nutrition recall resulted in consumers seeking alternative brands or types of infant formula and that the recall has created new concerns about the availability of certain types of infant formula, particularly given the overall strains on supply chains experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We understand that infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for many infants and is an essential product. FDA is working with Abbott Nutrition to better assess the impacts of the recall and understand production capacity at other Abbott facilities that produce some of the impacted brands. We are also working with Abbott Nutrition on safe resumption of production at the Sturgis, MI facility. Throughout the pandemic, FDA has also been monitoring potential supply chain risks for this category of products and has been reaching out to infant formula manufacturers and their trade groups. As Abbott Nutrition was initiating its recall, FDA intensified this outreach to infant formula manufacturers to inquire about their capacity and potential impacts given this developing situation. We will continue discussion with Abbott Nutrition and other infant formula manufacturers and consider all tools available to support the supply of infant formula products. We are also partnering with the United State Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to monitor the impact of the recall on the WIC Program. FDA is continuing to investigate and will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available. Read the full update Recalls, Outbreaks & Emergencies Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe All  |  Help This email was sent to ooseims.archieves@blogger.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: U.S. Food and Drug Administration ·  10903 New Hampshire Ave · Silver Spring, MD ·  20993-0002 ·  1-888-INFO-FDA