Baby Formula from Gerber Withdrawn Over Potential Bacterial Contamination

Key Takeaways:

• The manufacturer Perrigo Co. issued a recall for Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula due to potential contamination of a harmful bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii.
• The recall is a precautionary measure, despite no product batches testing positive for the bacteria or reports of adverse events, following an issue at the production facility in Wisconsin between the 2nd and 18th of January.
• The recall applies specifically to the Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula and no other products from the company.
• Similar recalls have occurred in the past, with both Reckitt’s Enfamil ProSobee formula and Abbott Nutrition’s plant experiencing similar issues.
• Consumers are advised to discontinue use and discard any product with matching lot codes and request a refund from the Gerber Parent Resource Center.

Perrigo Co., the manufacturer of the Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula, recently issued a recall for the said product. The reason behind this bold move is the potential contamination of a dangerous bacteria, referred to as Cronobacter sakazakii.

Possible Presence of Harmful Bacteria

The possibility of this harmful bacteria being present stems from an instance between the 2nd and 18th of January at the Gateway Eau Claire production facility in Wisconsin, where the company operates.

Despite having no product batches testing positive for the bacteria or no reported adverse events, the withdrawal has been enacted as a precautionary measure, as stated in a recent press release by Perrigo Co.

Recall Exclusively for a Single Product

This voluntary recall, implemented after discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, specifically affects only the Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula. No other products produced in this plant or any other Perrigo facilities have been implicated in the recall. You can more about the specific recall details here.

Prior Similar Recalls

Interestingly, similar incidents have occurred in the recent past. Just a month ago, baby formula manufacturer Reckitt withdrew 145,000 cans of its Enfamil ProSobee formula due to potential C. sakazakii bacterial contamination. This followed an even earlier shortage of infant formula last year owing to the closure of Abbott Nutrition’s plant in Michigan, following instances of infant illness and death after consuming powdered infant formula processed at the plant.

Instructions to Consumers

Moving to the present recall, purchasers of the Gerber infant formula post March 5, should inspect the lot codes and use-by dates on their purchased items relevant to the recall. These details could be located at the bottom of the package.

If you find your product’s lot code matches those in the recall, it is advisable to discontinue usage and discard the product. A refund can be requested by contacting the Gerber Parent Resource Center, operating on behalf of Perrigo, at 1-800-777-7690 available 24/7. Should any health-related questions arise, it is recommended to reach out to your healthcare provider.

About Cronobacter sakazakii

The bacteria C. sakazakii is prevalent in the environment and usually doesn’t cause symptoms in healthy individuals. However, it can lead to serious health issues in premature infants, infants under 2 months of age, or those with compromised immunity.

Recalled Products and Codes

For reference, these are the products and lot codes, which are affected by the recall:

Gerber Good Start SoothePro 12.4 oz:
300357651Z – USE BY 04JUL2024
300457651Z – USE BY 05JUL2024
300557651Z – USE BY 06JUL2024

Gerber Good Start SoothePro 30.6 oz:
301357652Z – USE BY 14JUL2024
301457652Z – USE BY 15JUL2024

Gerber Good Start SoothePro 19.4 oz:
301557652Z – USE BY 16JUL2024