In the U.S, four consumer complaints of infant illness were received from September 2021 to December 2021. This includes three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one Salmonella Newport infection. All four infants were hospitalized and Cronobacter may have contributed to one death.
Abbott’s recall of these powdered infant formula produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan MI, has spread globally and now includes Croatia, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, among many other countries. Food Standards Agency (FSA) is investigating whether three infant illnesses reported recently in the United Kingdom are connected to an outbreak in the United States from the recalled infant formula.
Background:
Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections(sepsis) or meningitis. Symptoms of which include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths and abnormal movement in infants. The infection can also lead to bowel damage and may spread through the blood to other parts of the body.
Salmonella bacteria causes gastrointestinal illness, fever called salmonellosis which may lead to diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. A severe case of salmonella infection results in headache, lethargy, rash, blood in the urine or stool and may be fatal in some cases.
PLEASE NOTE THAT ABBOTT’S SIMILAC INFANT FORMULA POWDER REGISTERED BY NAFDAC ARE MANUFACTURED IN SOUTH AFRICA AND REPUBLIC OF IRELAND WHILE,
THE RECALLED PRODUCTS LISTED ABOVE WERE MANUFACTURED IN STURGIS, MICHIGAN- AMERICA.
Recommendation:
The Agency advises that parents of infant experiencing any of these symptoms after consumption of the recalled Abbott Infant formula, should notify your child’s healthcare provider and seek medical care for your child immediately. Healthcare providers and health departments are encouraged to report any confirmed cases of Cronobacter sakazakii to relevant authorities.
NAFDAC implores importers, distributors, retailers and the public to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid sale, distribution and consumption of the recalled products listed above or if in possession should submit to the nearest NAFDAC office or report to NAFDAC PRASCOR (20543 or 0800-1-623322) TOLL FREE from all networks) or via pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng or via e-Reporting platform available on the NAFDAC website http://www.nafdac,gov.ng.
NAFDAC……..Customer-focused, Agency-minded!!!
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