Baby Formula Recall Updates With Warning of Potentially Fatal Infection

An updated recall announcement shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that a potentially deadly fatal bacteria has been found in baby formula.

Dairy Manufacturers Inc. of Prosper, Texas, originally announced that its Crecelac and Farmalac infant formula products had “not been evaluated by [the] FDA to determine whether they meet U.S. food safety and nutritional standards” in a recall issued on May 24.

A press release issued by the company on Monday and shared to the FDA website on Tuesday warned consumers that batches of Crecelac Infant 0-12 formula that were distributed in Texas only had tested positive for the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii.

“Cronobacter is a bacterium that can cause bloodstream and central nervous system infections, such as sepsis and meningitis, respectively,” the release states. “Complications from Cronobacter infection in infants can include brain abscess, developmental delays, motor impairments, and death.”

“Symptoms of Cronobacter infection in infants may include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths, or abnormal body movements,” it continues.

The announcement goes on to say that affected 12.4-ounce containers of the Crecelac formula were distributed to retail stores in Texas “primarily” from March 2024 to May 2024. The product has an expiration date reading “08/2025,” with a UPC code of “8 50042 40847 6” and a lot code of “24 039 1 CHE 352-1.”

While there had been no reports of illnesses associated with the recall at the time of publication, the company urged consumers to discontinue use of the formula and return it for a full refund.

Anyone with additional questions or concerns can contact Dairy Manufacturers Inc. at 1-972-347-2341 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Mondays to Fridays.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this may cause and assure our customers that we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety, quality, and compliance of our products,” the company stated in its release.

Newsweek reached out for comment to Dairy Manufacturers Inc. via online contact form on Tuesday.

Last month’s initial recall announcement did not mention Cronobacter contamination, with the products instead being pulled over concerns of “noncompliance” with the FDA’s “safety and nutritional standards.”

In addition to Crecelac, recalled product also included Farmalac 0-12 and Farmalac 0-12 Low Lactose formulas. It was unclear whether the other recalled products were tested for contamination.

Cronobacter contamination concerns are a somewhat frequent cause for issuing baby formula recalls. The bacteria, which is commonly found in the environment, is “especially good at surviving in dry foods” like formula, according to the FDA.

Although the pathogen very rarely causes serious infections in adults, it is very dangerous for newborns, prematurely born infants and babies with weakened immune systems.

Infections are still rare, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention typically receiving from two to four reports of severe cases from local health authorities across the country each year.

Multiple infant formula recalls for potential Cronobacter contamination were shared to the FDA website last year, with some of the recalled products having “use by” dates that were still current at the time of publication.