While many moms breastfeed their little ones, some moms choose formula – each for a variety of different reasons.
But it was to every mother’s horror when five babies were hospitalized – and two even died – after drinking formula contaminated with bacteria that ended up tracing all the way back to the manufacturing facility.
And once you hear the details, you’re bound to be horrified.
Five precious babies were sick and hospitalized simply by drinking the very thing that was supposed to help them grow and be healthy.
Two of them even lost their life.
Heartbreaking, and absolutely terrifying.
Scary Mommy reported:
“The four cases of illness reported occurred in Minnesota, Ohio and Texas. Of the four infants hospitalized, three were infected with cronobacter and one with salmonella, with cronobacter infection having potentially contributed to one infant’s death.”
The FDA investigated the facility – and their results were highly alarming.
Scary Mommy continued:
“In its onsite investigation of Abbott’s Sturgis, Michigan facility, the FDA has found several positive cronobacter sakazakii results from environmental samples.
The FDA also found “adverse inspectional observations” at the facility. In addition, a when the FDA reviewed Abbott’s internal records, it found environmental contamination with cronobacter sakasakii, and that Abbott had destroyed formula found to be contaminated with cronobacter.”
Completely unacceptable.
They should be shut down.
CNN reports the FDA has recalled three brands of powdered baby formula warning parents not to purchase certain formulas of Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare.
But then another baby got sick and died after drinking Similac PM 60/40.
CNN reported:
“The FDA said Monday that a child consumed Similac PM 60/40 before getting a Cronobacter sakazakii infection and dying. The agency said the infection “may have been a contributing cause of death” for the child.”
Truly unconscionable.
What’s to stop this from happening again?
Where is the oversite?
How many more babies will get sick and die?
There is already a massive formula shortage due to “shipping delays” – and many panicked moms have found their formula stash depleted with nothing to feed their babies.
Can you imagine?!
Amazingly though, breastfeeding mamas are rising to the occasion and donating their extra supply to moms in need.
Nonetheless, this tragic situation should have never happened.
Moms do everything they can to keep their babies safe.
And these well-intended mamas now have to deal with the aftereffects of the nightmare.
If the recall isn’t scary enough, formula lawsuits have been filed all around the country as moms claim their precious premature babies have developed something called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) – causing severe gastrointestinal problems from drinking formula like Similac.
About Lawsuits reported:
“Over the last decade, a number of studies have indicated that use of cow’s milk baby formula like Similac and Enfamil may increase the risk of NEC in preterm infants. This has lead to a growing number of health experts recommending that premature babies only receive the mother’s breast milk, donor breast milk or certain breast-milk based formulas.
Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson now face a growing number of Similac and Enfamil NEC lawsuits, alleging that they knew their products were unreasonably dangerous for premature babies, yet continued to sell and distribute the cow’s milk formula without providing adequate warnings to parents, hospitals and medical providers.”
If you’re on the fence about breastfeeding vs. formula – this latest recall may sway you to consider the beauty of breastfeeding.
Not only can you guarantee your baby will receive a safe form of nutrition (of course, if you aren’t on drugs or taking toxins), but it’s economical – and a beautiful way to bond with your little one.
But if you do choose formula, be sure to stay vigilant and pay attention to any recalls.
And remember – always use boiling water with powdered formula. Your little one’s life depends on it.
To find out if your container of formula is part of the recall, please look at the bottom of the container and enter the lot number here.
Please take a moment to forward this article on to your family and friends and let them know they can sign up to receive our newsletter directly to their inbox by clicking here!