This combination of photos provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows packaging for, from left, CRECELAC INFANT Powdered Goat-Milk Infant Formula with Iron 0 to 12 months, Farmalac BABY Powdered Infant Formula with Iron 0 to 12 months, and Farmalac BABY Powdered Infant Formula with Iron Low Lactose 0 to 12 months. On Friday, May 31, 2024, U.S. health officials warned parents to avoid powdered infant formula sold by a Texas dairy producer, because a dangerous bacteria was found in one of the company's products. The previous week, the company voluntarily recalled the Crecelac formula and another brand, Farmalac, because they had not received approval by the FDA for sale in the U.S. (FDA via AP)
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. health officials have cautioned parents against using powdered infant formula from a Texas dairy producer due to contamination concerns. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning on Friday regarding Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula after discovering a harmful bacteria, cronobacter, in a sample from a Texas store. This bacteria can lead to severe, sometimes fatal, infections in infants. A similar contamination issue caused major recalls and shortages of infant formula in 2022.
The Crecelac formula is distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc. based in Prosper, Texas. The FDA's announcements, along with those from the company, did not disclose the manufacturing location or the extent of the distribution in the U.S. Efforts to reach Dairy Manufacturers Inc. for comment on Friday were unsuccessful.
The company has voluntarily recalled both Crecelac and another formula brand, Farmalac, as they had not received the necessary FDA approval for sale in the U.S. Infant formula distributors must provide data to FDA regulators to demonstrate their products meet U.S. food and nutritional standards. Although tests on the Farmalac product did not find cronobacter, the FDA advises parents and caregivers to avoid using it.
Cronobacter can cause severe blood infections and other critical conditions in infants, such as meningitis and nervous system damage. The bacteria are commonly found in the environment and can contaminate infant formula after the packages are opened.
In 2022, the FDA shut down an Abbott formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, following an investigation into four infant illnesses linked to cronobacter, including two fatalities. The inspection revealed widespread contamination, leading to a significant shortage of infant formula. To address the shortage, the FDA began allowing the import of infant formula from overseas manufacturers. Before this, U.S. infant formula production was primarily limited to a few domestic producers, including Abbott.
