Pharmaceutical company Abbott issued a "proactive voluntary" recall via the Food Standards Agency for some batches of the Alimentum Similac 400g and EleCare Similac 400g powder formulas last week (January 20), after it received four consumer complaints in the US relating to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants
However, Abbott wrote that “no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of either of these bacteria, and we continue to test” in a release published last week (February 17).
A spokesperson for Abbott told C+D: "At Abbott, our first priority is the health and safety of our customers. We value the trust parents place in us for high quality and safe infant nutrition.
"The voluntary recall only impacts Alimentum and EleCare in the UK. No other Abbott nutrition products – or Similac products – distributed in the UKare affected."
Stop using and contact prescriber
The MHRA urged pharmacists in the UK to ask customers who bought affected batches of the Alimentum and EleCare infant powder formulas to “discontinue use of the product and contact the prescriber for a suitable alternative” in a safety alert released yesterday (February 21).
No other Abbott or Similac products distributed in the UK are affected by the recall, the regulator specified.
You can access the full list of batches that are being recalled here.
The MHRA has advised healthcare professionals to contact Abbott on 01795 580303 if they have additional questions about the recalled products.