NEC & Baby Formula Injuries

On February 17, 2022, Abbott Nutrition announced the recall of its Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare formulas manufactured at its plant in Sturgis, MI due to concerns of Cronobacter contamination. The recall was issued after the FDA found evidence of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria in the Sturgis facility and multiple infants who consumed baby formula manufactured in the facility were sickened with Cronobacter infections. The Abbot formula recall was expanded in March 2022 to include some lots of Similac PM 60/40 Powdered Formula. The FDA later reported that four Cronobacter infections and one Salmonella infection may be linked to to the Abbott recall. Sadly, two of the reported patients sickened with Cronobacter infections passed away. 

On December 11, 2022, ByHeart announced a recall of five batches of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula due to potential contamination with Cronobacter Sakazakii. The recall was issued after one test sample identified the presence of Cronobacter. No further tests from distributed batches came back positive but ByHeart recalled all product produced with the contaminated batch out of an abundance of caution. No Cronobacter bacteria was found in ByHeart’s supply chain and no infections related to ByHeart have been reported. 

On February 20, 2023, Reckitt announced a recall of two batches of ProSobee Plant-Based Infant Formula due to possible contamination with Cronobacter Sakazakii. All recalled product tested negative for Cronobacter bacteria but the batches were recalled out of an abundance of caution. No Cronobacter infections related to the ProSobee formula recall have been reported.

The recalled product batch codes are ZL2HZF and ZL2HZZ and both batches have a UPC Code of 300871214415 and a use by date of March 1, 2024.  The recall covers approximately 145,000 cans.

On March 17, 2023, Perrigo Company announced a recall of its Gerber Good Start SootheProTM Powdered Infant Formula due to potential contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii. The recall covered the following lots of formula manufactured at its Eau Claire, WI facility:

Gerber® Good Start® SootheProTM 12.4 oz:
300357651Z – USE BY 04JUL2024
300457651Z – USE BY 05JUL2024
300557651Z – USE BY 06JUL2024
300557652Z – USE BY 06JUL2024
300757651Z – USE BY 08JUL2024
300857651Z – USE BY 09JUL2024
301057651Z – USE BY 11JUL2024
301057652Z – USE BY 11JUL2024
301157651Z – USE BY 12JUL2024

Gerber® Good Start® SootheProTM 30.6 oz:
301357652Z – USE BY 14JUL2024
301457652Z – USE BY 15JUL2024
301557651Z – USE BY 16JUL2024

Gerber Good® Start® SootheProTM 19.4 oz:
301557652Z – USE BY 16JUL2024I

No distributed products have tested positive for Cronobacter bacteria. The affected lots were sold after March 5, 2023 and the FDA is recommending that consumers dispose of any formula containing the lot codes above.