East Hartford WIC Advises Parents and Caregivers of Recall Involving Specific Abbott Powder Formulas

East Hartford, CT - The Town of East Hartford Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program is informing parents and caregivers of a public health advisory issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on some Abbott Nutrition powdered infant formula products that were manufactured in the Sturgis, MI location. Abbott Nutrition issued a voluntary recall on specific lots of powder formulas, including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare manufactured in Sturgis, MI, one of the company’s manufacturing facilities.  The recall does not include any metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas.

Abbott is voluntarily recalling these products after four consumer complaints related to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants who had consumed powder infant formula manufactured in this facility.  Although no distributed product has tested positive for either of these bacteria, the recall was initiated in an abundance of caution while an investigation is ongoing.

PRODUCTS INCLUDED

The FDA is advising consumers not to use Similac Alimentum or EleCare powdered infant formulas if:

The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and

The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2, and

The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.

The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date. More details are available from the FDA, including pictures of how to find this information on the cans: https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-and-salmonella-complaints-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

If your product is affected by the recall, do not use it and go to www.similacrecall.com for a refund or replacement, depending on how the product was acquired or the type of product. You should seek safe, alternative feeding options and talk to your pediatrician or healthcare provider. You can also call Similac customer service at 1-800-986-8540.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR EAST HARTFORD WIC PROGRAM CLIENTS

If you are a client of the East Hartford WIC program and received one of the recalled products, please contact the WIC program at (860) 291-7190.  WIC office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WIC clients can work with the program to return the recalled product and issue a replacement formula.