More Than 650,000 Infant Formula Cans Recalled Across US Over Deadly Bacteria

Shelves of baby formula are seen in a Walmart Supercenter in Houston, Texas on July 8, 2022. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

More than 650,000 cans of baby formula are being recalled across the United States over potential bacterial contamination, the firm confirmed.

Cans of Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder, a formula that is given to babies with an allergy to dairy, are being voluntarily recalled, said Reckitt and Mead Johnson Nutrition in a statement Saturday.

The reason for the recall is because the product is potentially contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, which can sometimes cause life-threatening infections such as meningitis or sepsis.

The recalled Nutramigen in 12.6- and 19.8-ounce cans were made in June 2023 and distributed in June, July, and August of that year, according to the firm. It’s believed that the special infant formula was already consumed.

“Based on the limited availability of the remaining stock of this special infant formula, it is believed that much, if not all, of the products recalled in the United States have been consumed. There are no reports of illnesses or adverse events to date. The products were distributed through retail stores nationwide. The batches in question can be identified by the batch code on the bottom of the can,” the company said.

In a statement to ABC News, the company said that some over 650,000 cans of Nutramigen were impacted under the recall.

“When we were alerted in December to a potential for cross-contamination in product samples outside the U.S., both Reckitt/Mead Johnson and the US FDA tested samples from the batch in question and all tests came back negative,” a Reckitt and Mead Johnson Nutrition spokesperson told the outlet.

But, according to the firm, the company “understands the incredible responsibility we have in providing what is often the sole nutrition for infants, and there can be no short cuts for this vulnerable population—therefore, we chose to recall select batches of Nutramigen out of an abundance of caution.”

“Parents should be reassured that they can continue to feed their infants with Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition products, including other Nutramigen powder formula batches, with confidence,” the spokesperson added.

The impacted product codes, can sizes, and UPC codes can be accessed via the company website.

Consumers who bought the Nutramigen should check the bottom of the can to identify whether their product’s batch number is affected by the recall, and products with the affected batch codes shouldn’t be consumed or used, the statement said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not issued a statement on the matter. A recall notice for the baby formula products was not posted on the agency’s website.

Reckitt and Mead Johnson Nutrition said in the statement that the company has not received any reports of illnesses linked to the product.

Cronobacter sakazakii is often found in powdered milk as well as other dry goods such as baby formula and herbal tea, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The bacteria has been blamed in other recalls, including a major recall incident several years ago that forced Abbott Laboratories to shut down its plant in Michigan last year.

Cronobacter sakazakii infections, the CDC says, are generally considered rare. However, they can be deadly for young infants, the agency warns.

Generally, infants younger than two months old and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk of developing the infection. It causes severe disease among adults who are age aged 65 and older and those with compromised immune systems due to conditions such as HIV, cancer, or organ transplants, the CDC says.

The bacteria can cause severe bloodstream infections, known as sepsis, or meningitis, which is the inflammation of the membranes that sheath the brain and spine.

In babies, Cronobacter sakazakii infections can potentially cause fever, lethargy, difficulty feeding, and seizures.