Deadly Bacteria Detected in Baby Formula: FDA Admits to Knowing Months Before Product Recall

Baby Infant Product Recall Enfamil Recall Enfamil ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula Abbott Infant Formula Recall FDA admits to knowing deadly bacteria detection month prior recall Cronobacter bacteria deadly for young infants no bacteria was found on the withdrawn cans FDA not alerted of positive test Mead Johnson 2021 America's shortage of baby formula salmonella

By Jo Anne Hubert , Parent Herald Apr 03, 08:41 pm

Months before a baby formula was recalled in the market due to a discovery of a deadly bacteria, the FDA already knew about it.

The Food and Drug administration (FDA) recently admitted that they were aware that a deadly bacteria was found in the Enfamil ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula as early as November of last year, almost three months prior to the product being withdrawn for public consumption.

FDA inspected the Mead Johnson plant, manufacturer of the Enfamil product last November, where they were informed that a Cronobacter bacteria had been detected at its Zeeland, Michigan facility last September.

The baby formula recall only happened in February this year, five months after the discovery of the bacteria, which according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "can be deadly for young infants." Babies who are infected with the bacteria can experience fever, poor feeding, excessive crying, low energy, and serious effects like seizures, spine swelling, and bloodstream infections.

Positive test wasn't reported to FDA

An initial contaminated batch was destroyed before another 145,000 cans were recalled after the bacteria was discovered in the formula. However, according to the FDA, no bacteria was found on the withdrawn cans of baby formula.

The FDA stated that Mead Johnson, under the current law, is not required to "alert" their office of the positive test, and so they chose not to.

"It was only during an unrelated inspection of the company that FDA discovered the positive test, and was told that analysis to the cause was ongoing. The FDA has reviewed conditions during recent inspections of powdered infant formula manufacturers, including routine surveillance inspections, for-cause inspections to follow up on consumer complaints, and other interactions with manufacturers," explained an FDA spokesperson to Fox News

Thus, the agency is now requesting from Congress further authority for mandatory reports from companies as this can prevent cases like the enfamil recall.

FDA: Not as serious as the Abbott recall

The FDA, however, reassured in a statement that the Enfamil recall is "much narrower in scope" as compared to the Abbott recall, which happened in 2021, resulting in America experiencing a the United States experienced a shortage of baby formula.

According to Food Safety News, the FDA received nine reports of infant deaths among babies who drank the powdered infant formula manufactured by Abbott Nutrition in Sturgis, Michigan.

The deaths were part of a list of 128 complaints from consumers. Two of the babies who died were confirmed to be part of the four outbreak cases of Cronobacter sakazakii, while another two of the remaining seven deaths mentioned the detection of Salmonella in the complaint description.

This caused the recall of the infant formula and the shutdown of the production plant.

Fox News reached out to Reckitt, owner of Mead Johnson, for comments regarding the issue yet no comments or statements have been provided as of writing.

The FDA also assured the public that there have been no illnesses or adverse events that have been reported in connection with the Enfamil product recall.