Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical health care company, has recently announced that they are recalling 5 million cans of specified Similar brand powdered infant formula.

Apparently, the Similac recall was due to a possibility of some product to contain a small beetle or described by their laboratories as larvae, in which can cause digestion problems or stomach ache among the infant whom could take the said powdered formula milk.

The following is the most accurate info taken from the FDA press release:

The health care company Abbott says about 5 million containers of its Similac-brand powdered infant formulas—which includes Isomil and Go & Grow—are being recalled because of possible contamination with insect pieces or larvae.

The voluntary recall affects milk- and soy-based formulas distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and some Caribbean nations. At least 12 of the recalled products were provided to families through the federal government’s Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) health and nutrition program.

Click HERE for a PDF of photos of the recalled items.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reassuring caregivers and families whose babies may have consumed recalled products that drinking the formula will not cause long-term health problems.

“FDA understands that this kind of contamination is a great concern to parents and caregivers,” says FDA Commissioner Margaret A. Hamburg, M.D., “especially in a product they rely on to nourish their infants. To date, FDA has not received any consumer reports of illness associated with the recalled formula.”

Insect pieces in the formula could irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing babies to have an upset stomach or refuse food, FDA experts say. Parents should consult a doctor if symptoms persist for more than a few days.

FDA is encouraging consumers to check lot numbers on the bottom of formula containers against those being recalled. Anyone who has a recalled container should stop using it immediately and return it to the manufacturer for a full refund. 

3 Ways to Tell If Your Formula Has Been Recalled

If you think you may have one of the recalled formulas, you can:

1. use FDA’s searchable database to find the lot numbers of affected products.
2. visit the manufacturer’s website and type in the lot number to see if it is being recalled, or
3. call Abbott at (800) 986-8850, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week 

Abbott says its liquid formulas are not affected by the recall. Additional information is available at www.abbott.com.

The possibility of contamination was discovered during an internal quality review conducted earlier this month at Abbott’s Sturgis, Mich., plant. The review found that some Similac powdered formulas could contain pieces of a common type of warehouse beetle, the company said in a statement.

If you believe your baby might have become ill from drinking the recalled formula, report the problem to FDA’s MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program:

• Complete and submit the report Online
• Download form or call 1-800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178

Consumers may also call the FDA consumer complaint coordinator in their area.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)