U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has called for a federal watchdog to investigate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) handling of a recent infant formula recall.
According to Consumer Reports, the request from the lawmaker comes after a sweeping recall by Abbott Nutrition of infant formula expanded this week after new reports of illnesses and two infant deaths associated with the products.
Call for Investigation
DeLauro wrote a letter to the inspector general of the Department of Health and Human Services, which includes the FDA, expressing concern about the FDA’s slow response in pulling this potentially lethal infant formula from store shelves, which might have resulted in more illnesses and fatalities.
The formula posed the risk of exposure to dangerous bacteria: Salmonella Newport and Coronobacter sakazakii, the latter known to be particularly deadly.
The FDA, along with the Centers for Disease Control, says the reports of death and illnesses are being investigated. DeLauro said she is worried that the agency knew as far back in September about this potential link between cronobacter infection and the infant formula made by Abbott.
At the time, FDA had an inspector in Abbott’s plant who uncovered numerous violations of federal safety rules that are designed to prevent this type of bacterial contamination.
The FDA also found similar issues at the plant in 2019. The FDA did not warn consumers about the infant formula until a follow-up inspection in January uncovered cronobacter in several samples taken at Abbott’s facility. The recall from Abbott followed.
The FDA inspection also turned up internal Abbott records that showed the company had previously destroyed products because of the presence of cronobacter.
Abbott says the formula in question was destroyed in June 2020 after testing that is required before products can be released. The company insists none of the formula was distributed for sale.
The Need for Accountability
There is no question that the involved parties, including the FDA, need to offer an explanation as to why these dangerous and defective products – ones consumed by infants—were not recalled in a timely manner.
It appears that the company, as well as the federal safety agency, knew that these products were potentially harmful to babies, but didn’t take that step to issue the recall.
Our California product defect attorneys join Congresswoman DeLauro in calling for answers from Abbott and the FDA.
Please get in touch with a knowledgeable product defect lawyer if you or a loved one has suffered because of these contaminated infant formula products for more information on how to assert your legal rights and hold the responsible parties accountable.
Source: https://www.consumerreports.org/baby-formula/fda-handling-of-infant-formula-recall-should-be-investigated-a4734536180/
