Recently, Abbot Nutrition, a division of the medical device and manufacturing company Abbott Laboratories announced a voluntary recall in the wake of multiple reports that several of its powdered baby formulas were making children sick. According to a recent report by CNN, on February 17, 2022, the company recalled certain lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas. However, later that month the company also recalled additional lots of its Similac 60/40 formula.
The concerns surrounding the baby food recall are that several infants developed rare and otherwise unexplainable infections after they consumed these various formulas. More specifically, infants were diagnosed with Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella Newport.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a type of bacteria that is hazardous to adults, but especially dangerous to children. It is commonly found in certain consumable products, such as powdered baby formula and tea bags. However, if an infant is exposed to Cronobacter sakazakii, they can become very sick and even die. In fact, there are at least two reports of young children who died related to Cronobacter sakazakii infections after they consumed Abbott Labs’ formula.
Salmonella Newport is a type of the more common bacteria Salmonella. Most often, Salmonella is associated with poultry products and eggs. If a healthy adult is exposed to Salmonella, they will likely experience stomach problems; however, exposure can be fatal in young children who may become dehydrated.
Making the Abbott Labs baby formula recall more concerning is the fact that there are allegations the company knew that its products tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii as early as September 2021—a full four months before it pulled the products from the shelves. In fact, it wasn’t until the Food and Drug Administration sent out an alert to parents to avoid the contaminated baby formula that Abbott Nutrition recalled the products.
While this baby food recall is still under investigation, it certainly raises concerns about the company’s actions, what it knew about the potential dangerousness of its baby formulas, and why it didn’t take action soon. Maine parents who purchased any of the affected brands should discard the formula and consult with a doctor to determine if their child was exposed to harmful bacteria. Parents whose children became ill after consuming Similac, Alimentum and EleCare or Similac 60/40 should also reach out to a Maine product liability attorney to discuss their options for holding Abbott Labs responsible through a baby food lawsuit.
Did Your Child Become Ill After Consuming Similac, Alimentum and EleCare or Similac 60/40?
If you have a child who got sick after consuming any of the recalled baby formulas manufactured by Abbott Nutrition, reach out to the Maine personal injury lawyers at Peter Thompson & Associates. At Peter Thompson & Associates, we offer all parents a free consultation to discuss their case and explain their options. If you decide to pursue a baby food lawsuit, we will not bill you for our services unless we can connect you with financial compensation. To learn more, and to schedule a free consultation today, call 800-804-2004.