Possible Bacterial Contamination Has Once Again Sparked Shortages In Baby Formula After Recent Recall

Reckitt, which is a consumer goods company, announced a recent recall of almost all baby formula products across the United States as of this past Sunday due to possible bacterial contamination.

The company explained that two separate batches of ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula could have ended up cross-contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, an organism that is often linked to powdered formulas and have the chance to be highly deadly to babies, as explained via a report from the CDC. Reckitt has initiated a recall of close to 145,000 cans that were manufactured between August 2022 and September 2022 and then shipped out all over the United States.

“We are committed to the highest level of quality and safety and it is for this reason that we have taken this extraordinary measure,” stated Reckitt in a release. “After a thorough investigation, we have identified the root cause, which was linked to a material from a third party. We have taken all appropriate corrective actions, including no longer sourcing this material from the supplier. The health and safety of infants is our highest priority.”

This particular recall is taking place after roughly a year since Abbott Nutrition temporarily closed down its baby formula factory in Sturgis, Michigan, and initiated a totally voluntary recall of several products. The sudden absence of one product called EleCare, which is a formula made for babies that are not able to digest anything else, was quite worrisome to parents and government officials. The White House attempted to deal with the issue by initiating “Operation Fly Formula,” through which the military imported stocks of baby formula from Europe.

The massive recall was initiated in the wake of the FDA finding standing water, bacteria growths, roof leaks, and inadequate hygiene all across the Abbott facility, which was shut down between February 2022 and June 2022. A number of babies all over the nation were reportedly impacted by bacterial infections.

“We believe our voluntary recall was the right thing to do,” explained Rober Ford, the CEO of Abbott Nutrition, to the Washington Post. “We will not take risks when it comes to the health of children. The data collected during the investigation, genetic sequencing, retained product samples and available product from the four complaints did not find any connection between our products and the four reported illnesses in children. However, the FDA’s investigation did discover a bacteria in our plant that we will not tolerate.”


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