Recalled Similac^®, Alimentum^®, and EleCare^® Powdered Formula Lawsuits

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Per the CDC, parents and caregivers of infants and babies should not feed their baby recalled Similac, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas.

If you or a loved one have a baby who was fed recalled Similac, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formula and required medical treatment as a result, and you are considering a baby formula lawsuit, call us at 800-796-1636 or submit your case details online. Someone will contact you shortly. You pay nothing unless your lawsuit is successful and you receive compensation.

At Trustwell Law, our experienced attorneys take a personalized, compassionate approach. We cut through the legalese and partner with our clients. We have access to the expertise, resources, and manpower to fully investigate each case and fight for and with our clients to get the justice they deserve.

What is Cronobacter? What is Salmonella?

Cronobacter is a bacterium that can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis, which is inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine. Cronobacter infections are rare, but they are particularly high risk for newborns.

Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal (stomach) illness and a fever called salmonellosis.

Symptoms of Cronobacter and Salmonella infection may include:

If your baby has eaten any of the recalled formulas and they have any of these symptoms, contact your health provider immediately or go to the emergency room.

History of Unsanitary Conditions at this Abbott Plant

FDA inspectors reportedly found that Abbott didn’t maintain clean surfaces in the areas used for producing and handling powdered formula at its Sturgis, Michigan plant. These conditions were noted in September 2021, five months before Abbott conducted the recall of Similac, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formula. Also, on the same September day the FDA began its inspection, Minnesota health officials reportedly told the agency about an infant who had become ill with a Cronobacter bacterial infection after eating the formula.

It has also been reported that, in their report, FDA inspectors noted a history of Cronobacter contamination at the plant, including eight separate occurrences between fall 2019 and February 2022.

FDA Inspections Had Uncovered Unsanitary Conditions at the Abbott Plant Since 2019

FDA Form 483 is an official document titled “Inspectional Observations.”  The agency issues them to company management after an FDA inspection at which the inspectors noticed “objectionable” conditions. The Forms 483 from FDA inspections at the Abbott plant in Sturgis, Michigan in 2019, 2021, and 2022 all reported problems.

The FDA reports, released following Freedom of Information Act requests, indicate that the FDA had long been concerned about potential safety issues at the Abbott plant.  The findings in the inspection reports include:

• Abbott Nutrition did not establish a system of process controls covering all stages of processing to ensure the infant formula was not contaminated by microorganisms either already in the formula or in the processing environment.
  • One record from September 2019 stated that Abbott had not tested “a representative sample of a production aggregate of a powdered baby formula” at the final product stage before distribution.
  • The September 2019 inspection also found that Abbott workers were not following their own protocols and were testing half of the required number of powdered formula samples for microbiological contamination.
• Abbott Nutrition did not effectively ensure that all surfaces the infant formula came into contact with were maintained to protect the formula from contamination.
• Another report in 2021 suggested that the plant was not maintaining clean and sanitary conditions.
• The inspection between January 31, 2022, and March 18, 2022, stated that the FDA had confirmed the presence of Cronobacter bacteria in medium- and high-care areas of the plant’s powdered infant formula production.

More Information for Parents of Babies Fed Recalled Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare Powdered Formula

The FDA has posted these links for Parents

• Infant Formula: Safety Do’s and Don’ts, FDA Consumer Update
• FDA Investigation of Cronobacter and Salmonella Complaints: Powdered Infant Formula (February 2022), FDA webpage
• Powdered Infant Formula Recall: What to Know
• Cronobacter Infection and Infants, CDC webpage

And remember, to check if a container has been recalled, click here to access the Abbott website to input the lot number from the container.

Recalled Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare Powdered Formula Lawyers

If your baby was fed recalled Similac, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formula and required medical treatment, you may be entitled to compensation.

Contact us for a free consultation.