Is There A Recall On Nutricia Baby Formula In 2022?
No. Although Nutricia KetoCal 3:1 tested positive for Cronobacter (a type of bacteria also involved in the massive Similac recall in February 2022) during routine screening by Australian customs, the company hasn’t issued a recall of its products. (1)
The contaminated product only affects Nutricia KetoCal 3:1 with batch number 101101598 and best before date of “8 July 2023.” (1)
The Cronobacter contamination was discovered during a routine check as part of Australian Customs’ normal procedure to randomly test imported products occasionally.
How Will You Know If Your Ketocal 3:1 Is Included?
Check the bottom of the Nutricia Ketocal 3:1 can for the following: (1)
- Batch number of 101101598 (blue box)
- Expiry date of 08.07.2023 (green box)
What To Do If You Purchased This Product
Nutricia doesn’t recommend stopping formula use without medical consultation. (1)
You can immediately consult your child’s specialist pediatrician, metabolic physician, neurologist, or dietitian before you stop using the formula.
In a factsheet made by Nutricia, parents and carers are advised to continue using this product for their babies using revised preparation instructions. (1)
Nutricia’s Revised Preparation Instructions
Nutricia recommends preparing the affected KetoCal 3:1 products by using water at 176 degrees F (80 degrees C) to replace the cool water in the regular preparation instructions. (2)
You can make this water at home using water boiled for 5 minutes, then allowed to cool to that temperature. It’s best to measure it using a sterilized thermometer.
Nutricia offered to send thermometers to affected consumers. (2)
If you haven’t received yours yet and don’t have a thermometer on hand, it’s estimated that boiling water cools down to this temperature after about 4 minutes. (2)
Prepare the formula using the recommended number of scoops as you regularly do. However, be sure to check the formula’s temperature by putting some drops on your wrist before giving it to your baby. The liquid should be warm, not hot.
Nutricia also recommends washing your hands with soap and water before handling the infant formula.
They also advised parents to clean sinks and countertops using disinfectant wipes, paper towels sprayed with cleaning products, or soap and water.
Why Is Nutricia Not Issuing A Recall?
For many patients using this particular product, there isn’t any alternative feeding option to Nutricia. So, it might be better for many parents to continue using the product for their babies than to stop. (2)
However, be sure to follow Nutricia’s revised preparation instructions above to make the possibly contaminated product safe.
What’s Cronobacter?
Nutricia explains that Cronobacter, like the one involved in the recent recall of Similac, Elecare, and Alimentum, are bacteria found naturally in the environment. These can be present in powdered infant formula, powdered milk, starches, herbal teas, and other food items. (1)(3)
Most people don’t get sick with Cronobacter, but infections can be serious in babies.
Infants under two months old, born prematurely, or those with weakened immune systems (e.g., undergoing chemotherapy) have an increased risk of developing a serious infection from Cronobacter. (1)(3)
These pathogens can cause: (3)
- Sepsis (a dangerous blood infection)
- Meningitis (inflammation of the lining surrounding your baby’s brain and spinal cord)
Symptoms Of Cronobacter Infection
Babies with Cronobacter infection can develop the following symptoms: (3)
- Fever
- Excessive crying
- Poor feeding
- Fatigue or very low energy
Serious cases can lead to seizures or death.
Although there weren’t any illnesses linked to Nutricia Ketocal 3:1, at least two infant deaths were reportedly linked to Similac products in February 2022. (3)(4)
Take your infant to their doctor if they develop any of the symptoms listed above.
FAQs
What’s Causing The Formula Shortage?
An infant formula shortage has been affecting the US since 2021, but this greatly increased after a massive formula recall in February 2022 involving Similac, Alimentum, Elecare, and Similac PM 60/40 (a specialty formula.
What Formula Is Being Recalled In 2022?
As of May 2022, there’s still an active recall of Similac, Alimentum, and Elecare powdered products. Abbott Nutrition announced late in April that it will release Similac PM 60/40 and other metabolic nutrition products to comply with the FDA’s request. (4)(5)
However, these aren’t newly produced formulas. They were items put on hold during the recall and had been tested to comply with the FDA’s release requirements before redistribution.
REFERENCES
(1) https://nutricia.com.au/paediatrics/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2022/04/NSW-Health-Fact-Sheet-Cronobacter-detection-KetoCal3-1-factsheet-FINAL-29Apr2022.pdf
(2) https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/05/nutricia-infant-formula-tests-positive-for-cronobacter/
(3) https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/alerts/Pages/cronobacter.aspx
(4) https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/similac-infant-formula-recall-expanded-childs-death-fda-says-rcna18076
(5) https://abbott.mediaroom.com/2022-04-29-Abbott-to-Release-Metabolic-Nutrition-Formulas
