Fisher-Titus pediatrics provides guidance on infant formula recall

NORWALK — Abbott Nutrition issued a voluntary recall of certain powdered infant formulas on Thursday, February 17. The recall was issued due to possible contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii and salmonella bacteria and only applies to powdered formulas produced in a specific plant in Sturgis, Michigan. Affected powdered infant formula products include: • Similac • Alimentum • EleCare If you have containers of any of these formulas at home, you should check the code on the container/package, usually located on the bottom, for the following: • The first two digits of the lot number are between 22 and 37 and • It contains K8, SH, or Z2 and • The expiration date is 4/1/22 (APR 2022) or later If all of the above are found on the container, the formula is included in the recall. You can also go to similacrecall.com and type in the lot number to confirm if your container of formula is included. If your product is affected by this recall, do not use it even if it looks alright. Call Similac at 1-800-986-8540 or visit similacrecall.com for refund processing or product replacement. Using boiled water will not make the formulas safe, and you should never pre-boil mixed formula as it will change the nutritional content and could still be contaminated. Use of cow, goat, soy or other milk, and home recipes for infant formula, or other non-FDA approved products are not recommended and may be dangerous to infants under 1 year of age. If you received your formula through WIC or another source, you should contact them directly for guidance and a replacement product if needed. If your child has previously consumed formula that is part of the recall, no action is required but you can watch for the following symptoms: • Poor feeding or no appetite • Irritability • Temperature changes (fever or low temperature) • Grunting breaths, difficulty breathing • Unusual movements • Jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes) Children on Similac can switch to other brands directly, including Gerber, Enfamil, Members' Mark, Up and Up, or other FDA approved formulas for infants. Children requiring special formulations such as Alimentum may change to Ready-To-Feed/liquid formulations, or trial Nutramigen or other similar products. Patients requiring Elecare may use Neocate or Alfamino. Fisher-Titus only uses liquid/ready-to-feed formulations of Similac, and these products were not affected by this recall at all. If you have any questions about the recall and feeding your child, you should contact your child's health care provider. For more information about the recall, visit similacrecall.com.