INFANT FORMULA RECALL DUE TO CONTAMINATION FROM CRONOBACTER AND SALMONELLA

“Because of the ubiquitous nature of ES [Enterobacter sakazakii now known as a Cronobacter species] and the mystery surrounding its pathogenesis, preventive measures by parents, infant formula manufacturers, and health care providers will be important in the prevention of ES-related infections. We recommend a focus on simple preventative strategies such as the promotion of breast milk feeding , inclusion of warnings on powdered infant formula packages that they may be contaminated with ES, and abstinence from the practice of re-warming of reconstituted formula.”—“Enterobacter sakazakii:  An Emerging Pathogen in Infants and Neonates,” by Catherin J. Hunter et al, Surgical Infections, 2008. doi:  10.1089/sur2008.006

Fast forward to 2022 and the announcement by the FDA that 4 infants were hospitalized and one died. Three babies were infected with Cronobacter and one with Salmonella.  The sick babies were from Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas.  The suspected product was Abbott formulas (Similac, Alimentum, and Elecare) produced in Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan manufacturing plant.  Cronobacter was the cause of the infant’s death.  The FDA is inspecting the Sturgis facility.  “The results show several positive Cronobacter  environmental samples and adverse inspectional observations by FDA investigators.  A review of the firm’s internal records also indicates environmental contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii and the firm’s destruction of products because of the presence of Cronobacter.” https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/02/urgent-warning-issued-about-infant-formula-and-cronobacter-salmonella-infections/

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-and-salmonella-complaints-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

It has been 11 years since I blogged about babies dying, brain damaged, and hospitalized from Cronobacter in US hospitals.  I believe the final count was 11 infants sickened by Cronobacter in 2011. But actual numbers are not known because the only state in the US that is required to report Cronobacter is Minnesota (according to CDC website that was reviewed in Jan. 2022).   https://vwmcclain.blogspot.com/2011/12/questioning-enterobacter-sakazakii.html

The CDC states that Cronobacter infection is rare.  Is it considered rare because only one state in the US is required to report Cronobacter cases?  I believe that the cases in 2011 were under-counted. The CDC now states that they only see 2-4 cases a year, and the mortality rate is up to 40%.  Back in 2012 they stated they saw 4-6 cases.  I believe that some researchers from various institutions state a 40-80% mortality rate.  According to the CDC, we must be doing better than a decade ago.  But again, if the only state required to report cases is Minnesota, than how do we know how many infants are sickened by Cronobacter  in the US?

I find it hard to understand this blindness to the one of the many risks of infant formula.  Instead the US mantra appears to be that infant formula is a safe choice.  Yet 40 years of research shows a long list of health risks to babies. Formula fed infants have a much greater risk of bacterial and viral infections, higher rates of diabetes, pneumonia, respiratory infections, hospitalizations, etc. than exclusively breastfed infants.

One of the problems with the Cronobacter contamination of infant formula is the global reach of infant formula companies. Abbott exports their infant formula to many countries.  The risks are higher for countries that have unsafe water, lack of access to fuel to sanitize bottles and nipples, financial resources that are limited, and poor literacy so they can not read the instructions in tiny print.  Even in the USA, there are many families who have unsafe water (for example the lead problem in city water in Detroit), families that don't have stoves or refrigerators-or their electricity has been turned off, and many families during this covid pandemic have been evicted and made homeless.  Mothers that have low IQs may have difficulty following instructions in order to make formula safely.  I remember reading that even people who are college educated made errors in fixing formula-over scooping or under-scooping powdered formula.  Thus, infant formula can be risky in any wealthy country, and gets even riskier during times of emergencies--hm...like a pandemic.  Will this be a lesson learned? Or will this continually happen because corporations do not pay a price for their products that harm babies?

Copyright 2022 Valerie W. McClain