FDA Issues Warning on Bacterial Contamination of Nutramigen Infant Formula
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently issued a warning regarding the potential bacterial contamination of Reckitt/Mead Johnson’s Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula. The recall was initiated by the manufacturers after the FDA was notified that exported formula tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii by the Israeli Ministry of Health.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a type of bacteria known to contaminate powdered infant formula and can cause rare but potentially deadly infections in newborns. Although no illnesses have been reported thus far, the FDA is taking precautionary measures and advising consumers not to use the recalled formula.
The recalled cans of formula had been distributed within the United States and exported to other countries. The affected products can be identified by certain batch codes and UPC codes. Consumers are urged to check for the codes ZL3FHG, ZL3FMH, ZL3FPE, ZL3FQD, ZL3FRW, ZL3FXJ, with a “Use By Date” of 1 Jan 2025 and refrain from using the formula if found.
Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition, the manufacturer of Nutramigen, has reassured the public that all the recalled products have tested negative for the bacteria. They have also set up a refund process for affected consumers to ensure customer satisfaction and safety.
In response to the recall, the FDA recommends that consumers work with healthcare providers to find suitable alternatives for the Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder. However, it is worth noting that this recall is not anticipated to have a significant impact on the overall formula supply.
The Israeli Ministry of Health initially notified the FDA about the contaminated formula on December 14. Following this notification, whole genome sequencing was conducted, which confirmed the presence of Cronobacter bacteria on December 28. In light of these findings, the FDA has been monitoring the situation closely and conducting inspections and tests at Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition’s facility. To date, all testing has yielded negative results for Cronobacter.
With safety as their top priority, the FDA is actively working to prevent any potential harm to infants and is collaborating with the manufacturer to investigate the cause of the contamination. The FDA will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as necessary to ensure the public’s health and wellbeing.
For more information or to request a refund, consumers can contact Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition directly.
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