Due to possible bacterial contamination, consumer goods company Reckitt on Sunday announced a recall of baby formula products across the United States.
Reckitt, the company that produces Enfamil, will therefore recall 145,000 cans that were manufactured between August 2022 and September 2022 and distributed through retail stores nationwide in the U.S., Guam, and Puerto Rico.
According to the CDC, two batches of ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula may have been contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, a species commonly associated with powdered formulas and potentially fatal to infants. The voluntary recall of multiple products was started by Abbott Nutrition about a year ago, when it temporarily closed a baby formula facility in Sturgis, Michigan.
As this is the same bacteria that caused the formula to recall the previous year. Four children were infected with Cronobacter at Abbott’s facility, which led to a huge voluntary shutdown between February 2022 and June 2022 and the recall of their own infant formula, after the FDA found standing water, roof leaks, bacteria growths, and inadequate hygiene in the Abbott facility, despite Abbott’s contention that there is inconclusive evidence that its formula was the cause of the infant illnesses, but two of the babies went further to die.
“We believe our voluntary recall was the right thing to do. We will not take risks when it comes to the health of children. The data collected during the investigation, genetic sequencing, retained product samples and available product from the four complaints did not find any connection between our products and the four reported illnesses in children. However, the FDA’s investigation did discover a bacteria in our plant that we will not tolerate,” Abbott Nutrition CEO Rober Ford said, per The Washington Post.
The possible source for the cross-contamination of the Rickett’s Prosobee formula has been identified, coming from “a material from a third party,” the company said. Reckitt will look to acquire this unnamed material from a different supplier.
“We are committed to the highest level of quality and safety and it is for this reason that we have taken this extraordinary measure. After a thorough investigation, we have identified the root cause, which was linked to a material from a third party. We have taken all appropriate corrective actions, including no longer sourcing this material from the supplier. The health and safety of infants is our highest priority,” Reckitt said in a statement.
Reckitt said that Consumers who purchased ProSobee Simply Plant-Based Infant Formula should check the bottom of the can to identify whether the batch number is affected.
“Product with batch codes ZLZHZF and ZLZHZZ both with a UPC Code of 300871214415 and a “Use By Date” of “1 Mar 2024” should be disposed of or returned to the place of purchase for a total refund,” said Reckitt.
“The health and safety of infants is our highest priority. All of our products undergo rigorous and industry leading quality tests and checks to ensure that they meet or exceed all standards set by regulatory bodies, including the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,” Reckitt said. “It is for this reason that we have the highest level of confidence in the safety and quality of every infant formula we make.”
In July 2022, when out-of-stock rates exceeded 31%, baby formula shortages peaked, according to data from market research firm IRI shared with USA Today. Despite this, supply chain constraints continued to affect the products’ availability; in November 2022, out-of-stock rates still reached 13%.
According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for baby formula increased by 15% between July 2021 and July 2022, but between December 2021 and December 2022, inflation in the product category remained as high as 10.7%; as lockdowns and public health mandates imposed by many governments across the world fostered unpredictable supply chain shocks, contributing to inflation in many countries.
At the height of the crisis, New York Attorney General Letitia James warned baby formula companies to “stop overcharging” for the scarce products. In a press release, she said:
“It’s unconscionable that some retailers are taking advantage of the national baby formula shortage while parents are struggling to find food for their children.”
Democratic lawmakers and officials assert that corporate greed is responsible for the inflationary pressures which have grappled with the economy over the past two years.
Watch the video below for more details:
Sources: Dailywire, DaytonDailyNews, Mlive, Usatoday, Bls.gov, Reckitt, Cdc.gov
