- A baby who used Abbott's Similac PM 60/40 contracted a Cronobacter sakazakii infection and died.
- Abbott Nutrition recalled the lot, adding to the formulas under investigation by CDC and FDA.
- Cronobacter can cause severe, life-threatening infections, meningitis, and other complications.
Abbott Nutrition recalled another lot of powdered baby formula after a Michigan baby who used it contracted a serious infection and died, the Food and Drug Administration announced in an update Monday.
The formula, Similac PM 60/40 with the lot code 27032K800 for cans and 27032K800 for cases, expands the list of recalled formulas all manufactured at Abbott's Sturgis, Michigan facility. On February 17, the company recalled select lots of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare formulas.
The recalls are related to four reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one Salmonella infection that resulted in hospitalizations. The Cronobacter infections "may have contributed to death in two patients," the FDA said.
Along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the agency is investigating the cases and advising parents not to use the recalled formulas, not to dilute or make their own formula, and not to buy imported formulas.
"We understand that infant formula is the sole source of nutrition for many infants and is an essential product," the update says. "FDA is working with Abbott Nutrition to better assess the impacts of the recall and understand production capacity at other Abbott facilities that produce some of the impacted brands."
"We value the trust parents place in us for high quality and safe nutrition and we'll do whatever it takes to keep that trust," Abbott said in a statement to CNN.
Cronobacter, the bacteria the latest baby was exposed to, can cause severe, life-threatening infections, meningitis, bowel damage, "and may spread through the blood to other parts of the body," the FDA said. While the recalled formulas "have the potential" to be contaminated with the bacteria, Abbott said no distributed product has tested positive for its presence.
