Per the FDA, the most recent death that may have been caused by a bacterial infection linked to the Abbott baby formula comes after the child reportedly consumed Abbott Laboratories’ infant formula before their death in January. The Wall Street Journal reports the FDA is in the preliminary stages of its investigation and declined to share any information beyond the mention of the Cronobacter bacteria.
The bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii is a naturally occurring germ that can cause severe illnesses and possibly even death in infants less than a year old, per the CDC. This bacteria was reportedly found at Abbott’s Sturgis, MI plant during an FDA inspection in February 2022. The formula has now allegedly been linked to five infant illness cases, three of which died. Abbott Laboratories has denied that its infant formula was the cause of the deaths, and the FDA’s full investigation remains ongoing (via NPR).
