(13). (20), Bubs Australia at least 1.25 million cans of baby formula (22), UK manufacturer Kendal Nutricare (makers of Kendamil) around 100 trucks over the next six months (23), Abbott Needs To Comply With Court Consent Decree Before Production Can Resume, Hiring an independent third party expert who will review its processes, Cleaning and sanitizing the entire facility, including all equipment, Restarting all the equipment and completing test runs, Conducting multiple tests of all equipment, Abbotts Serious Steps To Address The Formula Shortage, Creating a $5 million fund for children hospitalized due to lack of access to specialized products, Converting production lines at their Columbus, Ohio, facility to prioritize the production of ready-to-feed liquid infant formula, Air-shipping millions of widely used powdered baby formulas from an FDA-approved plant in Ireland to the US, More than double the current production to help produce more products to address the shortage, Make significant investments to improve facilities to ensure the issue doesnt happen again, Invest in upgrading safety and quality processes and equipment, FDA Refutes Abbotts Claim Regarding Bacterial Strains, Groups Claim Abbott Enriched Shareholders While Plant Needed Repairs, Pelosi Eyes Criminal Charges Over Baby Formula Shortage, For Abbott Nutrition raw materials like sugar and corn syrup for infant formula, For Reckitt filters and other single-use products to generate certain oils needed in their infant formula production, Formula Makers Import European Stocks To Help With US Shortage. Additionally,recently tested retained product samples of Similac PM 60/40 Lot # 27032K80 (can) / Lot #27032K800 (case) were negative forCronobacter. Experts point out that baby formula isnt subjected to the same high temperatures that other foods undergo to kill potentially deadly bacteria and other germs. Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, revealed that he admitted two patients because their specialty formula is out of stock. The first recall (Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formulas) was issued on February 17 due to possible contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria, which caused serious infections. (4), Thats why theres also a shortage in the store brands like. However, issuing the voluntary recall was the right thing to do because they didnt want to risk the childrens lives and health. We found no evidence of Salmonella Newport. Abbott is initiating a proactive, voluntary recall of certain lots of 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter bottles of Ready-to-Feed liquid products for infants and children, including the brands SimilacPro-Total ComfortTM, Similac360 Total Care, Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, SimilacSpecial Care24, Similac Stage 1, SimilacNeoSure, Similac Water (Sterilized) and Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution. Symptoms may include irritability with generalized tenderness. The recall was issued following consumer reports of four babies hospitalized, and one possible death due to Cronobacter. (60), According to the FDA, premature babies fed with this formula for over a month may have a higher risk of developing iron-deficiency anemia because of insufficient iron intake. Amid the formula shortage following the massive Similac recall earlier this year, many parents continue to face challenges in finding products for their children. (53), Formulas that dont meet this requirement need a label indicating that additional iron might be necessary, but the company failed to comply. The massive recalls worsened the formula shortage in the US that first started with supply chain issues. (37). Update password per the new system standards (8 Characters). (32). (37), During the May 2022 hearing, FDA Commissioner Califf and lawmakers agreed that consolidation (strong market players taking over smaller competitions) made the US formula market more vulnerable to disruptions. (Liquid Ready-To-Drink Formula), The bottles had a missing special layer that keeps air out. (1) Its competitor, Enfamil by Mead Johnson, may also hold around 40% of the market, while Gerber comes in third with roughly 15%. (45), According to the White House fact sheet, some unscrupulous retailers or individuals used the formula shortage to hoard products from legitimate suppliers. After President Joe Biden announced Operation Fly Formula, several shipments have arrived from across the world to help the US solve the formula shortage. Similac and other formulas will be next in line once production starts. Abbott Recall | Powder Infant Formulas & 2 fl oz Ready-to-Feed Liquid Products, US - certain lots of Similac 360 Total Care, Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, Similac Special Care 24, Similac Pro-Total Comfort, Similac NeoSure, Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution, Canada - 1 lot of Pedalyte Electrolyte Solution; 1 lot of Similac Water (Sterilized), Puerto Rico, Bermuda, Curacao, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica - 1 lot of Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive, Puerto Rico, Curacao, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Haiti, St. Thomas, St. Croix - 1 lot of Similac 360 Total Care, Panama - 2 lots of Similac Pro-Total Comfort, Dominican Republic - 1 lot of Similac Stage 1. However, theyre still running out of formulas. (5)(43), After getting involved in the massive Similac recall in February 2022, Abbott Nutrition recently announced that it plans to reopen the Sturgis, Michigan plant in about two weeks. Many parents also consider the following European formulas as the best organic options for their babies: Please consult your healthcare provider before switching to these formulas. If your infant is experiencing symptomsrelated toCronobacterorSalmonellainfection,such as poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths, abnormal movements, lethargy, rash, or blood in the urine or stool; contact your health care provider to report their symptoms and receive immediate care. (24)(25), These are some of the steps they need to comply with: (24)(25), The company must also review and change the following: (24), If any contamination is detected, Abbott is required to immediately stop production. Nine Baby Deaths Reported During FDA Investigation, From December 1, 2021, to March 3, 2022, the FDA reportedly received a total of nine reports of formula-related baby deaths, with two among the four confirmed, infections that led to the February 2022 Similac recall. (55), Batch no. Symptoms of a Cronobacter infection include poor feeding, jaundice and grunting breaths, according to the FDA. Some of the hospitalized kids suffered malnutrition after taking homemade formula or other inappropriate substitutions. (41), A spokesperson for the hospital refused to disclose the exact number of hospitalized kids but said that all had specific dietary needs. This recall does not include any other liquid or powder formula brands or other nutrition products produced in our Columbus facility or elsewhere within our global nutrition manufacturing network. For all feeding-related questions or questions about your childs health, contact a healthcare professional. It will take around three weeks or June 20 before these formulas will hit market shelves. Why it matters: About 3 in 4 babies are fed formula by six months old as a complete or partial substitute for human milk, Axios' Nathan Bomey reports. (21), The first two Defense Production Act authorizations are priority orders for Reckitt Benckiser (Mead-Johnsons Enfamil) and Abbott Nutrition: (31), Once the Abbott plant resumes operations, these priority shipments are expected to help increase their production by one-third. (21), According to the FDAs food director, Susan Mayne, they were unable to fully determine if theres a match because they only had sequences from two babies. Two recalled Similac products were sold between November 1, 2020, and February 17, 2022:. (4). I am deeply concerned about the practices at this Abbott facility and their apparent failure to implement and enforce internal controls at this facility. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf is the first administration official to face Congress in an investigation of the baby formula shortage. Retail companies like Walmart have already put a cap on how many you can buy per transaction. The Sturgis plants reopening is expected to improve formula supplies in the market and alleviate the formula shortage problem soon. This manufacturing defect may cause a decrease in the formulas vitamin C content over time. The recall does not include any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas. This is subject to the FDAs approval. (8), After a three-week shutdown following massive floods in the area, the Abbott plant in Sturgis, Michigan, has finally reopened again on July 1, 2022. (62), Lot codes 40177RH and 40172RH, with a use by date of Nov. 1, 2007, The bottles lack a special layer that keeps air out. But it poses no immediate health risk of food poisoning. Abbott is continuing production of Similac 2 fluid ounce/59 milliliter Ready-to-Feed liquid formula products for hospitals and healthcare providers' offices on a different production line. According to Dr. Corkins, the preschooler has been admitted since April and remains at the hospital, while the toddler was only hospitalized for about a week. Importantly, no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of either of these bacteria, and we continue to test. Similac 360 Total Care Affected bottle and carton or case lot numbers in the US: (1) 35609N200; 38493XK00 39480N200; 420395E00 (also distributed in Puerto Rico, Trinidad & Tobago, Curacao, Barbados, St Thomas, St Croix, and Haiti) 40716N200; 42567XK00 40755N200; 43579XK00 Affected lots with the same bottle and case numbers: (1) 39633N200 40624N200 So, its important to follow the instructions found on the packaging for proper preparation, handling, and storage of all powder formulas to avoid contamination. 235, 205, Dominican Republic: +1-849-200-1564, Haiti: 868-687-0223, Jamaica: 876-927-7098, Panama: 800-0410, St. Croix: 1(340) 690-7222, St. Thomas: 1(340) 690-7222, Trinidad & Tobago: 868-687-0223, Savings on Similac.com Schedule & Save purchases, Choose a preferred retailer, like Amazon or Target. To find out if the product you have is included in this recall, click on the button below to check your lot number. But these include Similac. 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