Numerous Utah mothers panicked after a massive milk formula recall resulted in stocks running out. With shelves emptied, mothers in Utah still do not know when milk companies might restock the supplies. According to Fox13 Salt Lake City, the recall occurred due to five babies falling ill. Four of them were diagnosed with Cronobacter infections and one with Salmonella. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that two of the five babies died.
Jody Evans, a mother of seven, recently switched to Similac Alimentum because her youngest child, Daniel, could not keep breastmilk down and had terrible blisters. Two weeks after switching to formula, Evans said that her tiny baby started to gain weight. She said that the infant began to fill out and had grown out of his newborn clothes. However, she heard about the massive formula recall and is now worried because she had given Daniel formula from the recalled batch.
Cronobacter contamination on milk
Abbott Nutrition recalled Similac PM 60/40 powdered formula on February 28 in addition to the earlier formula recall of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered milk formula due to possible Cronobacter contamination. The FDA and the Centers for Disease and Prevention Control are currently investigating Cronobacter infection after a series of complaints and reports about infants falling ill.
Cronobacter infection is a foodborne illness that can cause neonatal meningitis. The pathogen that causes the neonatal disease is called Cronobacter sakazakii and is associated with the contaminated infant formula. The said pathogen was previously referred to as Enterobacter in 1929 but was later identified as a distinct species.
Previously, investigators included the reported Salmonella illness in the ongoing investigations of the FDA. The federal agency took all consumer complaints related to the exposure to products from Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis in Michigan facility into account. However, after further investigation, the FDA concluded no definitive link between the Salmonella illness and the powdered milk formula and was simply a single or exclusive case.
Empty Milk Shelves
The FDA has advised consumers not to use the recalled Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas. Evans, just like most moms, had to throw out their milk in stock and search for other sources of milk supply for their children. However, the baby section aisles in several stores are empty due to the recalled milk formula.
The mother of seven had to search stores, call pediatricians, and even turn to social media for help. Some other formula options are available in local stores but are pretty costly than most.
Milk products from the facility have a digit lot code at the bottom of the packaging. The recalled powdered formula had 22 through 37 as their first two digits. The containers also had codes like K8, SH, or Z2 and expiration dates from April 2022 or later. Parents and caretakers can review the product lot code at the bottom of the package and check the company's website if the powdered formula is part of the recall.
