ZEELAND – Retesting of Enfamil baby formula by its maker, Mead Johnson Nutrition, in the wake of a Missouri infant’s death found no contamination that could have lead to the infection that killed the child.
The company, which made the formula in its Zeeland plant, retested the formula last week after Walmart and other stores pulled a batch of Enfamil Newborn powdered formula that had been consumed by the baby who died.
The voluntary withdrawal by the stores of a specific batch of the product was taken as a precautionary measure after the death and another case of Cronobacter illness were reported.
No recall was initiated.
The Food and Drug Administration has launched an investigation to find the source of the Cronobacter, a naturally occurring bacteria that can cause serious, sometimes deadly infections. Other household sources, including water, have been known to carry the bacteria.
As of today Walmart still had the batch of Enfamil it pulled off shelves as it awaited word from the FDA on its investigation into the infections.
“We’re just continuing to monitor the on-going investigation,” Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee said. “It is still on pull-and-hold status pending the outcome of the FDA investigation.”
Mead Johnson said the new tests reaffirmed its earlier statements that Enfamil products are safe
“These new results reaffirm the testing conducted before the batch was made available to retailers and consumers. Based on both sets of tests, Mead Johnson can say with confidence that Enfamil Premium Newborn formula, like every infant formula the company produces, is safe,” a company statement read. “Mead Johnson recognizes that parents and health care professionals trust and rely on the Enfamil brand and takes that responsibility very seriously. The company wanted to reassure consumers – as quickly as possible and based on rigorous scientific data -- of the safety and quality of all its products.”
Formula is considered a potential source of Cronobacter, because some of its ingredients can carry the contaminant.
Mead Johnson routinely tests each batch of formula, including the one consumed by the child who died, for Cronobacter because of that possibility.
Consumers with questions about the situation can call Mead Johnson customer service at 1-800-BABY-123.