Is Cronobacter Threat Lurking in Contaminated Baby Formula?
Birth Defects, Toxic Exposure
Concern is growing that baby formula manufacturers are not doing enough to prevent the spread of a deadly bacteria known as Cronobacter sakazakii that has been found in as many as one in four powdered formulas.
Federal regulators and food safety experts have been concerned about Cronobacter since at least 2001, when eight babies were sickened and another died at a Tennessee hospital. The outbreak was linked to infant formula powder manufacturers that were not checking factories for contamination, according to the CDC.
In August 2023, the FDA sent warning letters to three formula manufacturers: ByHeart Inc., Mead Johnson Nutrition (Reckitt), and Perrigo Wisconsin, LLC.
“Infant formula producers were not checking for the bacteria in their factories at the time,” the FDA told The Washington Post in a 2022 report. “A subsequent FDA investigation found that nearly a quarter of the powdered formulas available on American store shelves and in health care settings contained Cronobacter.”
Manufacturers must do a better job controlling contamination because Cronobacter is known to live in dry foods, such as powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas and starches. Infections can be particularly serious for infants, the elderly and those with immune deficiencies, including organ transplant recipients, cancer victims, and people with HIV, according to the CDC.
What are Cronobacter symptoms?
The CDC outlines signs and symptoms of Cronobacter infection as follows:
- In babies, the symptoms often start with fever and poor feeding, excessive crying or very low energy. Some babies may also have seizures. Infants showing these symptoms should be seen by a doctor as soon as possible.
- Cronobacter can cause meningitis by entering the blood and causing swelling of the brain and spine. Approximately 20% of babies with meningitis develop long-lasting medical problems.
“The pathogen survives especially well in dry environments like powdered formula, unlike other bacteria,” Justin Wiertzema, a microbiologist and senior scientist at Post Consumer Brands who researched Cronobacter at the University of Minnesota, told The Washington Post.
Powdered formulas can be made safer when prepared using water that’s at least 158 degrees. Liquid formula, which is sterile (and more expensive), is the safest option for parents. The problem is that most parents do not know to request that hospitals use only liquid formula for their newborns or that using liquid formula is the safest practice.
Will Cronobacter Be Tracked?
Yes. Cronobacter now joins salmonella and about 120 other illnesses on the list of “nationally notifiable” pathogens. This list, which is jointly managed by the CDC and the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE), is updated by doctors and laboratories when an infection is identified in an infant. Making the disease nationally notifiable results in more patient infections being reported to the CDC, which can help with monitoring disease trends and identifying ways to prevent future illnesses.
When manufacturers disregard regulations and fail to adequately control contamination, they can be held accountable in civil litigation for monetary damages.
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