NAFDAC cautions against consumption of infant formula

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye, has cautioned the public about certain powdered infant formulas linked to foodborne illness.

She made this warning in a public alert No. 008/2022, signed by the DG in Abuja on Friday.

She stated that the warning was due to the presence of Cronobacter Sakazakii and Salmonella Newport bacteria, as notified by Abbott, to the agency.

Adeyeye added that four consumers of the instant formula in the United States of America had already complained to the appropriate authority about it, noting that the complaints were received between September 2021 and December 2021.

According to her, that the complaint included three reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections and one Salmonella Newport infection, adding that all the four infants affected were hospitalised.

Adeyeye stressed that, Cronobacter may have contributed to the death of one of the infants.

She said that Abbott has recalled the powdered infant formula, produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan MI and distributed globally to many countries including Croatia, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain.

Food Standards Agency is investigating whether three infant illnesses reported recently in the United Kingdom are connected to the recalled infant formula, She stressed.

Adeyeye said that Cronobacter bacteria could cause severe life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis, adding that the symptoms included poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths and abnormal movement in infants.

The NAFDAC Boss added that the infection could also lead to bowel damage and might spread through the blood to other parts of the body.

Adeyeye said Salmonella bacteria causes gastrointestinal illness and fever, which might lead to diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

“Please note that Abbott’s Similac infant formulas registered by NAFDAC are manufactured in South Africa and the Republic of Ireland, while the infant formulas were manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan-America,” she noted.

PHW