No evidence of contamination with the bacteria blamed for those illnesses was found at the plant.
All plants are regulated and inspected by state and federal inspectors so how did they miss the supposed contaminants?
America is running out of baby formula because 3 companies control the market and babies aren’t that profitable
On Feb. 17, Abbott voluntarily recalled its Sturgis-manufactured products and shut down the plant following reports that
four infants fell ill from bacterial infection and two died after consuming formula produced in the plant.
A whistleblower report,
submitted to the FDA in October 2021, alleged further health and safety compliance issues at the facility and contributed to a formal inspection by the agency earlier this year.
“There's plenty of blame to go around here,” says one expert.
fortune.com
After conducting its own investigation, which included genomic sequencing of bacteria, the company reported that nothing on its premises matched the specific strain of bacteria that caused the illnesses and deaths.
The FDA, however, found more problems with the facility that extended beyond the possibility of previous contamination. Following its own inspection, which occurred from Jan. 31 to March 18, the FDA says that it observed
Cronobacter sakazakii “in medium and high care areas of powdered infant formula production”—a problem regardless of whether or not it was the same strain that caused the specific infant deaths.
The agency additionally said
in its report that the company “did not ensure that all surfaces that contacted infant formula were maintained to protect infant formula from being contaminated by any source.” According to the FDA, the company is still working to “correct findings” from its inspection. The plant has not yet been able to reopen as a result.
thehill.com
