Babies and infants are among the most vulnerable members of our society. Accordingly, you might expect baby formula manufacturers would take extra precautions to protect them. Sadly, this isn’t always the case.
Bad formula can lead to serious illnesses and personal tragedies, and the recent news of one girl’s suffering should serve as a warning. According to WVLT in Knoxville, the infant girl suffered a urinary tract infection, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea. Doctors told her parents the cause was likely her baby formula. The formula was from a batch the manufacturer had recalled.
What should parents know about the baby formula recall?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating reports linked to three popular baby formulas:
- Similac
- Alimentum
- EleCare
The manufacturer of these products, Abbott, has issued a recall of all the products it believes may have been affected. These all come from the company’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan.
Abbott says it has tested for the presence of two different forms of harmful bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella. The company claims it found no traces of either bacteria in its product samples or in the parts of their plant where they work on the product. However, the FDA’s investigators have noted potential problems with the manufacturing process, and they found records of previous contamination.
You can check whether your baby formula was from the recalled batch by checking online. Abbott has created a website where you can enter the lot number of your formula to see if it’s included in the recall.
What can parents do if their children have been affected?
If your child shows any symptoms, the first thing to do is get medical treatment. You want to watch for symptoms associated with a bacterial infection. These include:
- Poor feeding
- Fever
- Jaundice
- Grunting breaths
- Rash
- Bloody urine or bowel movements
These can be the early warning signs of a potentially serious infection. At this time, at least one infant has died, and parents in several states have already filed complaints that the FDA is investigating. These include Minnesota, Ohio and Texas.
Can I hold the manufacturer responsible for my child’s infection?
If your child has been infected, you may also have a legal case. Manufacturers, distributors and vendors must take reasonable steps to ensure that their products are safe.
At Dilley Law Firm, we are already representing a client in Texas, and we encourage you to speak with an attorney before you contact Abbott. The manufacturer has posted a toll-free number for parents to call, but we have seen too many parents and clients sign away their rights to full compensation in exchange for hasty settlements.