Walmart Pulls Powdered Infant Formula from Stores after Boy's Death
After the death of a newborn Missouri boy who consumed Enfamil Newborn powdered infant formula, Walmart pulled the product from more than 3,000 of its stores nationwide. Health officials believe that the boy died from a rare infection caused by the bacterium Cronobacter (Enterobacter) sakazakii, which may have contaminated the formula. The manufacturer of the formula, Mead Johnson Nutrition, says its records indicate that the product in question, with lot number ZP1K7G, tested negative for the bacteria before shipping.
Late last week Avery Cornett showed signs of lethargy and a stomach ache, prompting his hospitalization. He was 10 days old when he was taken off life support and died.
Although Walmart has issued a voluntary recall “out of an abundance of caution,” the government has yet to follow suit. CBS News reports that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are investigating Avery’s death, examining environmental factors and anything he could have ingested.
E. sakazakii is known to contaminate milk-based powdered baby formulas and can survive heating during the preparation process. As a result of past outbreaks, baby formulas are screened for the bacterium before being sold. According to the CDC, E. sakazakii kills 40 to 80 percent of infants that are infected.
“We are saddened to hear about Avery Cornett’s passing and offer our sympathies to his family,” states Joy DellAringa, M.S., RM (NRM), CFSP, National Food Microbiology Supervisor at EMSL Analytical, Inc., a full service testing company. “EMSL works with families and companies to devise testing methods tailored to their specific needs, and our dedicated account managers guide our clients through what can be a complicated process.”
For more information on EMSL’s testing services, please contact EMSL at (800) 220-3675, visit
www.EMSL.com, or email
info@EMSL.com.