IMPORTANT: Baby formula with harmful bacteria has been recalled
The product is stocked by both Clicks and Dis-Chem.
A notice came through on Monday that a manufacturing plant in the United States discovered a harmful bacteria in baby formula products by Abbott Nutrition.
The healthcare company, which is headquartered in the US, has issued a voluntary recall of powdered formulas including Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare.
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The notice emphasised that only products produced at a plant in Sturgis, Michigan are affected at this point.
Both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Food Standards Australia and New Zealand (FSANZ) have already issued official recalls of certain Abbott products with an expiration of 1 April 2022 or later.
That is what's most important right now; that you check the date of your baby products' expiration date!
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Before this, Abbott Nutrition had received consumer complaints of Salmonella in the little ones who had consumed powdered formula manufactured at the Michigan facility.
A follow-up investigation was then conducted and evidence found Cronobacter sakazakii – but no Salmonella – in non-product contact areas.
Cronobacter sakazakii is a germ that can cause diarrhoea and urinary tract infections. It can affect people of all ages but "infection can be very serious in infants" and "deadly in newborns", warns the CDC.
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South Africa has not yet received an issue to recall any products from Abbott Nutrition but the National Consumer Commission (NCC) confirmed to Business Insider SA that it had been in contact with Abbott. The NCC added that it would issue a public notice as soon as it had the necessary information, including the specific product’s name and batch number.
Recalled products can be identified by the 7 to 9 digit code and expiration date on the bottom of the package. Products are included in the recall if they have all three:
- the first two digits of the code are 22 through 37 and
- the code on the container has K8, SH OR Z2 and
- the expiration date is 01- 04 -2022 or later
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Clicks, which also stocks a variety of Abbott products, told Business Insider SA that it had issued an internal recall on Monday morning.
“Abbott informed us this [Monday] morning of the product recall of Similac Alimentum infant formula,” said Clicks’ Chief Trading Officer Nigel Grimes.
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Main Image Courtesy: Nicole Benzeleski