New Delhi, August 7, 2024: A few days after a US court ordered Abbott Laboratories to pay nearly $500 million for hiding the risk, allegedly associatedwith its premature-infant formula,which can cause a potentially fatal bowel disease, in a new development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has come up with a safety alert for parents and caregiversregardinginfant formula products that violate the federal safety standards.
The list of the products include Crecelac and Farmalac brand formulasthat are allegedly associated with serious health risks for infants.
The alert was issued after Dairy Manufacturers Inc. initiated a recall in May 2024 due to the increased levels of potassium and chloride and low levels of Vitamin A in Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. Following the recall, though the products were removed from the shelves, the FDA thinks that some households may still have these products.
It must be noted while higher levels of potassium and chloride pose critical health risks to heart and kidney, Vitamin A deficiency (If consumed for a longer period) can lead to vision related problems.
The alert came after FDA’s investigation found Cronobacter contamination in a sample of Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula. The sample was collected from a retail store in Texas. It must be known that Cronobacter is a form of bacterium that can cause severe bloodstream infections and meningitis in infants. These infections can further lead to long-term neurological disorders/damage or even death.
Irritability, temperature changes, poor feeding, jaundice, and abnormal movements are some of the symptoms of Cronobacter infection in infants. Parents and caregivers observing any of these symptoms must seek immediate medical attention.
So far, no case of illnesses has been recorded in linkage to these recalls. Meanwhile, caregivers and parents are advised to seek medical consultation before using alternative goat milk formula options.
