Recently, I was greatly dismayed to see an FDA and Abbott recall of powdered infant formula appear in my email alerts. Powdered infant formulas are often the most affordable for parents who are in need of infant formulas but are not considered a sterile product. That is even printed on the labels, albeit in the tiniest font.
As a nurse and lactation consultant, I have taught the safe preparation of powdered infant formula for at least the last decade. The World Health Organization has promoted safe preparation and storage of powdered formulas for even longer. As a part of my work with hospitals becoming Baby Friendly designated, I learned about the contamination of powdered formulas even in first world countries, contributing to illness, hospitalization, and death of young babies.
The new recall was issued by Abbott was considered “voluntary”; however, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are advising consumers not to use Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare products if:
- The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
- The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2; and
- The expiration date is 4-1-22 (APR 2022) or later.
The FDA is investigating four infant illness cases from three states: Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas. All cases involved hospitalization from Salmonella Newport and one case resulted in the death of an infant from Cronobacter sakazakii. The Abbott products were manufactured in the Sturgis, Michigan facility and can be found throughout the United States, and were likely exported to other countries. This facility is under on-onsite inspection, which so far has found “several positive Cronobacter sakazakii results from environmental samples taken by the FDA investigators…[and] internal records indicating environmental contamination and destruction of product due to the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii.”
Especially powerful is the FDA statement made by Deputy Commissioner for Food Policy and Response Frank Yiannas, who said, “As this is a product used as the sole source of nutrition for many of our nation’s newborns and infants, the FDA is deeply concerned about these reports of bacterial infections.”
Isn’t it time we as a country and a global community held the manufacturers of breast milk substitutes accountable for their products? And for the marketing of that product that reduces breastfeeding and breast milk feeding? Why was the U.S. one of only two countries to NOT sign the World Health Assembly’s Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (The Code)?
In an industry where six multinational corporations controlled more than half of the global baby food market as well as infant formula industry, and who made profits in the BILLIONS of US dollars PER YEAR, why does the US still allow industry lobbyists to control decision making for the U.S. signing onto The Code? This is not only unethical but is, in my opinion, immoral. (My ire is definitely raised!)
Kathy
Want to read more? Here are several starts for you to gain a more realistic view of the topic:
- Hastings, G., Angus, K., Eadie, D., and Hunt, K. (2020). Selling second best: how infant formula marketing works. Globalization and Health; 16: 77.
- https://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf
- https://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/guidance-inappropriate-food-promotion-iyc/en/
- http://www.nexis.com
- Palmer, Gabrielle. The Politics of Breastfeeding: When Breasts Are Bad for Business
- Seals Allers, Kimberly. The Big Letdown: How Medicine, Big Business, and Feminism Undermine Breastfeeding
