A second infant has died after an illness associated with baby formula from Abbott Laboratories, leading that company to expand its recall.
The Centers for Disease Control announced on Feb. 28 that an infant died after consuming formula produced by Abbott’s facility in Sturgis, Mich., and that “Cronobacter infection may have been a contributing cause of death for this patient,” according to a statement from the FDA. There have been five cases of infections in infants who had consumed formula from the Sturgis facility, with one other death, the FDA says. Cronobacter sakazakii infections can lead to diseases including sepsis and meningitis.
This week Abbott is voluntarily recalling a lot of Similac PM 60/40 infant formula produced at Sturgis. It had recalled Similac, Alimentum and EleCare products produced at the same facility last month, after an FDA inspection found Cronobacter samples in the plant’s environment. Abbott is being sued by a Florida couple who alleged that their child became sick after consuming Alimentum.
