Formula maker says tests show no sign of bacteria

[alp227]

The manufacturer of the widely used baby formula Enfamil said Sunday that its testing shows the product is free of the bacteria blamed for the death of a Missouri infant.

Mead Johnson Nutrition said two tests of samples of its Enfamil Premium Newborn formula found no sign of the bacteria, known as Cronobacter sakazakii. The samples tested were taken from the same lot as the formula given to the baby boy who died, the company said.

The Missouri case prompted retail giant Walmart to pull all cans of the same size and lot number from its shelves last week. Another newborn baby was sickened in Illinois, but is recovering from the infection, according to the state health department.

"These new results reaffirm the testing conducted before the batch was made available to retailers and consumers," the company said in a written statement on the results. "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."

full: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/25/health/missouri-infant-infection/index.html

[Survivoreesta]

1. Oh yes I believe that!>

[dmallind]

3. Yes - bacterial assays are so underhanded and incredible.

[McCamy Taylor]

9. The assay was likely done on freshly mixed formula. "Old" formula could be infectious.

See the link below about how the bacterium can cling to plastics and multiply.

[dmallind]

10. So in other words you think the user let the stuff stand until it spoiled. What food doesn't spoil?

[skepticscott]

5. What exactly don't you believe?

That neither the company, the FDA or the CDC could get fairly elementary testing right, or that they would be honest about it if they did?

If the samples they tested (and presumably a lot of others in the stores or already purchased) really had deadly bacterial contamination, what would it profit anybody to cover it up and have a lot of other children die?

[emilyg]

15. You're on DU - must blame the company.

[skepticscott]

20. Exactly

Corporation=unspeakable evil

[emilyg]

26. Local news - CDC is testing

other formula brands, too that were in the house.

[Celebration]

2. wasn't it powdered formula?

If so, I would bet on the water.

[emilyg]

4. So would I. Very isolated case. No

other problems reported anywhere else.

[McCamy Taylor]

8. Two cases. One case is "isolated". Two cases is an "outbreak."

[dipsydoodle]

6. Someone else made the suggestion

that the issue may not be withe product but with the water used.

[McCamy Taylor]

7. This bacteria is described as a "food born" illness, so it likely came from food.

According to this article, it can cling to plastics. Therefore, it is possible that the contamination of the formula was so slight that it can not be confirmed with routine tests but if the two infants were given dirty bottles---i.e. if the parents did not clean the bottles adequately between feeds---the bacteria would multiply and eventually cause infection in the infants.

In other words, everyone may be telling the truth.

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2010/06/on-cronobacter-sakazakii/

[skepticscott]

13. Uh, a routine test

cultures any bacteria present, and gives them a chance to grow and multiply, just as they would in the scenario you describe. Why are you resorting to lame special pleading rather than admit that there may be nothing wrong with the product?

[Maine-ah]

22. is it possible then

that the contamination came from the packaging and not from the formula it's self?

[Peregrine]

14. Or

It could be another "Tylenol" type incident.

It could be a parent/caretaker.

A disgruntled employee spiking individual canisters instead of a whole batch.

But of course on du it can only be those evil corporations.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Could've been George W. Bush... just sayin'. n/t

[obamanut2012]

23. That's excactly what I wa sthinking

Just like every case of Halloween candy poisoning has been a parent.

Formula companies do NOT want a bunch of dead babies.

[SheilaT]

17. My first thought when I heard about this

was to wonder exactly where the formula is manufactured.

But then, since no other babies seem to have gotten sick -- it's not clear at all if the second ill infant had the same infection -- that it's probably not the formula itself.

[dmallind]

19. Zeeland, MI. nt

[thoughtcrime1984]

18. I make infant formula, and know the entire process

There is no way a "disgruntled employee" can place this bacteria in specific containers- at least not where I work (Not a Mead-Johnson company). This bacteria is public enemy #1 on our list- we, as a company do everything we can to prevent the occurance of this bacteria, as it is for the largest part, preventable, and is a known deadly bacteria to our customer, infants. I absolutely believe that a suspected issue with this bacteria is dealt with swiftly BEFORE each batch is released for sale (my company tests every batch for this, and I am quite sure every company does as well). If one of "our" batches is found to contain this at all, it is immediately removed from the warehouse and destroyed. If there were to be a recall, voluntary or not, related to E-sakazakii, the FDA would certainly be heavily involved, and would NOT let this slide. Anywhere that moisture exists, this bacteria can thrive, which would include the home of the purchaser of said formula. I am not trying to be an apologist for the infant formula industry, but I figured an insider could at least vouch for the legitmacy of how such an incident would be handled. We must be informed before we assume anything. This may or may not be a facility-related issue, but at least wait for the facts.

[vanlassie]

27. Recalls happen with regularity

http://www.naba-breastfeeding.org/images/Formula%20Recalls.pdf

[newfie11]

21. The link below has more interesting info on this bacteria

It seems this can grow in reconstituted formula kept at room temperature (or warmer) for prolonged periods of time.
I wonder if the family had not properly stored the bottle.

www.babymilk.com/safety/esakazakii_background.htm

[hedgehog]

24. Given that Walmart is such a dominent retailer, the odds are that Walmart would have sold the

formula. I give Walmart credit for pulling the product so quickly.

[Pachamama]

25. I dont want to know what the manufacturer says! I want to know what an independent lab or FDA has

To say after testing and investgating!!