Infant Formula Recall 2010: Similac Recall From Abbott Labs

by Amy Judd | September 22, 2010 at 11:54 am

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Infant Formula Similac Powder Has Been Recalled By Abbott Laboratories

Abbott has issued a voluntary recall of about five million Similac-brand powder infant formulas that were sold in the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and some Caribbean countries.

The recall is being issued due to the fact that they may contain the presence of a 'small common beetle' and while the Food and Drug Administration has determined that the formula poses no immediate health threat, infants could experience some gastrointestinal discomfort and could lower their appetite due to this stomach pain.

To determine if you have a Similac product that could be affected by this recall, go to this Similac site and type in your Lot number. Affected products include those in plastic containers and those in sizes of 8-ounces, 12.4 ounces and 12.9 ounces.

(Similac has now posted all the lot numbers online.)

Customers can also call (800) 986-8850. (1-800-986-8850)

Products not involved include all Abbott Nutrition liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated infant formulas and all powder and liquid specialty formulas, including Similac Expert Care, Alimentum, Elecare, Similac Expert Care Neosure, Similac Human Milk Fortifier and metabolic formulas for inherited disorders.

The company is implementing a plan to address this matter in the affected manufacturing facility, which is expected to be completed shortly. No other facilities or products are involved in this recall.

If you have an affected product then you can call Abbott and return the product to them directly, not to the store where you purchased the product, at no cost to you.

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Michelle Imhoff (not verified)

at 16:10 on September 22nd, 2010

Good afternoon,I am writing on behalf of my daughter who was just released from the hospital for abdominal cramping. We went in at 7pm and left at 6am the next morning. It was a night of pure heXX withs and iv, ultrascans, ultrasounds and it all comes down to formula, I believe. To top it off I didn't hear about this until this evening. Needless to say I was very uncomfortble with the fact that I walked into Walmart to return my two cans of formula that were half empty and were tainted. Going to purchase new formula and sitting on the shelf was the formula that had been recalled at what i heard was announced at three oclock pm. No one there was taking the initiative to pull the formula from the shelf. I am disgusted at this situation. My baby has been sick for over a week. For anyone to have to go through this situation is ridiculous. A night again I will say of ivs, fluids and catheter on a baby is no fun and the fact that of all manufactuering plants, it has to be what we as parents trust baby formula. I am very upset with this announcement and hope that some type of quality inspection would of been done earlier and would be interested to see the quality inspections over the last year. Sincerely,Michelle Imhoff

christianna (not verified)

at 16:43 on September 22nd, 2010

Could you pls let us know the symptoms? For the past few days, my baby has been crying hysterically, like in pain! and there were days when she would eat less than usual.

laine booton (not verified)

at 18:57 on September 22nd, 2010

Wanted to let people know the syptoms of what i believe is caused from the contaminated formula.. For three weeks my 10 week old has been screaming with what at first we thought was colic. She was then admitted to hospital as she had had diarrhea . She was there for 3 days with dehydration and it took several attempts to get an IV in. They tried everywhere, even her tiny little head. She was much better untill she came home and was back on the powdered formula. The diarrhea and vommiting started a few days later and she was admitted again.. It was so bad the second time she was admitted for 5 days. Due to this she had very high levels of patassium in her body causing cadiac arythmia and had an IV in for days. It took the doctors three hrs with several attempts to put the IV in. Also because of the diarrhea she now has a UTI. She is now having her blood drawn every day to check her patassium levels (which are still high!) For people to say it only causes an upset tummy they are obviously wrong. She is now on a different formula and is doing much better!

lanae (not verified)

at 06:46 on September 23rd, 2010

pl take that baby to the hospital that sounds like symptoms enough for me god bless hope all is well with the little one

NadiaRamnarine (not verified)

at 19:34 on October 15th, 2010

have u taken her in yet? my baby has similar symptoms and some of her formula was actually recalled......

christianna (not verified)

at 16:44 on September 22nd, 2010

Could you pls let us know the symptoms? For the past few days, my baby has been crying hysterically, like in pain! and there were days when she would eat less than usual. Thank you. I hope your baby is much better.

Michelle Imhoff (not verified)

at 04:25 on September 23rd, 2010

The symptons on my 7 month old were she would draw her legs up in pain, just screaming and anytime you touch her stomach, it was like shreeking pain for her, she wouldn't eat the formula and would cry uncontrollably. She had some diahrea, she did not have any fever, but it all had to do with her intestines....she is doing better for the last 6 hours since we switched her formula. The cans we had were tainted so I am sure that was the issue. If they are not eating or spittingup more, please watch for dehydration, they should have at least three wet diapers a day is what the doctor told me when we were there.

christianna (not verified)

at 04:37 on September 23rd, 2010

thank you for the info on symptoms. It was 8am EST and the website did work somehow. All the Similac Advance packs my baby was having are part of the recall and contaminated. How can a brand you trust so much end up this way, it is disheartening to know my baby has been feeding on contaminated milk! In case any of you are in the NY area and bought yours at Target, here are the 2 lot #s that are contaminated: 92586T20 and 91573T20. It is not the money anymore ---- someone's got to be accountable.

Allison St.Maur (not verified)

at 17:20 on September 22nd, 2010

My son has been sick for a week +. He started to get fussy and spit up after his meals and it just got worse to the point of him screaming in pain. I didn't understand how he could be fine one day and the next horrbile. We took our son to the hospital because the Dr. thought he might have Pyloric Stenosis. We switched him to Alimentum this past Monday and went from Zantac to Prevacid that costs 50.00. I'm am going to be seriously mad if his can is part of the recall and all this worrying and hospital/medical costs is because of that. Do we know how long it takes for them to feel better after stopping the contaminated formula?

Kelly P (not verified)

at 17:58 on September 22nd, 2010

Alimentum is not a part of the recall. My daughter is on it and I was concerned about it. In the article it says, "Products not involved include all Abbott Nutrition liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated infant formulas and all powder and liquid specialty formulas, including Similac Expert Care, Alimentum, Elecare, Similac Expert Care Neosure, Similac Human Milk Fortifier and metabolic formulas for inherited disorders." She has done very well on it for the past 5-6 months. She was sick for a few months on every formula we tried. She is now 7 months and doing very well. You will most likely see a huge change with it as we did. She was a whole different baby from when she was on Similac Advanced. GOOD LUCK!!

Penny Scott (not verified)

at 17:21 on September 22nd, 2010

What state are you in. At least that might help to know and do you have the lot number on your cans?

Kati 101 (not verified)

at 19:49 on September 22nd, 2010

I am in Kansas and they are recalling here.

Robin Marie (not verified)

at 17:55 on September 22nd, 2010

I compelely understand your concern about the problem for I am also a mother of an infant. However I would just like to let you know that I just found out about thirty minutes ago and I know I haven't see anything about on the news yet either. So I know that Walmart has probably just received the recall notice and are taking action as quickly as possible but don't assume that just because you know about it means that Walmart knows about it. If you want to be upset with someone be upset with Similac not getting the information out more quickly. As I am an employee of Walmart I know that they can only move as quickly as the company issuing the recall. But I competely understand your concern maybe you should write a letter to Similac about it.

kyansmom (not verified)

at 06:07 on September 23rd, 2010

i understand why you are defending your place of work but i too had the same problem where there was still recalled formula on the shelves but here is where i dont agree if they are accepting the recalled cans and returning money for the last few hours from when i went in they obviously knew about it and it would have been my FIRST priority to get all the fprmula off the shelves to make sure someone that hasnt heard about the recall picks up formula and another baby has to suffer so in short if they are acceptiong the return of recalled formula they are aware of the problem

MomRN (not verified)

at 19:24 on September 22nd, 2010

I called Walmart and several other store around 5pm and they did not know of the recall and would not exchange my formula til they knew from corp. My son has not been eating for the past week and a half and has been screaming at the top of hus lungs and refusing the formula! My son is a very good eater and to find out it was this just makes me upset! A friend of mine said at 10pm tonight someone she knew that worked at the local Walmart said they did know soemthing then but still didnt have the correct information!

Kati101 (not verified)

at 19:51 on September 22nd, 2010

I had the same exact problem at the Walmart in Derby, KS. They told me I was mistaken.

jeremykl (not verified)

at 19:42 on September 22nd, 2010

here are two more numbers to look for. switch to enfamil Nutramigen for colic, its milk free and does not upset the stomach, very similar to similac, i had my daughter on it befor i switched to the similac but it also 26.00 a can. but could save u a trip to the hospital the link

consuela lewis mom in ga with son 6 months old (not verified)

at 20:32 on September 22nd, 2010

my son is 6 months old and here laetly been acting funny with this similac milk last week he was real figitive and wouldnt sit still i got scare cause he wasnt breathing right and i went to my sister room to see if she thought somthing was wrong i sat there and tried to burp him for an hour or 2 when it finally came up it was beyound a lot hes been extra fussy he never cried until now stomach hurt everyday real tight and when he pukes it more than milk it extra thick like nucus but not i mean someone better tell me something cause his stool has ben red and other colors besides normal so i want to know who to sue due to this cause its been real exspensive buying milk for 25-30 dollars every other day im poor i cant afford milk now that the recalls here i ust spent 200 dollars on milk to last til his wic so now they telling me i have to go n spend more cause they got nasty bug shit in my newborn milk oh hell no who with me on getting a lwyer these babies sufferin for abotts carelessnesss

Barbara Haider (not verified)

at 15:42 on September 25th, 2010

We have five containers. that is recall that means our baby has been haveing this right after another, and has been crying so bad it is so sad that we been giveing the babys this i went back to wal mart to return the formula thay was given me a hard time. i just left. some one has to pay for all of this let me know what you find out what we can to. thanks Barb

MALLORYJUSTINE (not verified)

at 07:22 on September 23rd, 2010

92583T20 IS RECALLED

Amber marie (not verified)

at 07:34 on September 24th, 2010

i agree w/ u michelle my son is 4 months old and has never had a problem and now all of a sudden there is a problem with his formula. this is so horrible! i am so upset about this.i am changing his diaper everytime he eats now he usually eats around 5-6 ozs n how i have 2 make him eat 3!!!! i will neeevvvverrrr!!!! use another similac product ever again!! sorry to hear about your daughter!

Marilize (not verified)

at 23:46 on September 28th, 2010

Hi Guys, I am really shocked to year about this recall of Similac formula. I am in South Africa and my 6month old daughter is also on the Similac formula. She was admitted in July in hospital, they have put her on Similac Allimentum for 2 months, and now she had to switch to Similac Advance HA. She developed flu symtoms since she has been on it). Does anyone know if this recall will effect the batches in South Africa as well? If this is this is the case, please can someone let me know. Hope all of your kiddies are doing better! And to all moms that this effects - I agree with all of you. As a mom you trust that the formula you feed your baby is the best. regards, Marilize

That Guy (not verified)

at 13:54 on November 15th, 2010

Don't believe the woman's lib movement. Breast feed. Its the only way..

connie Garvey (not verified)

at 16:11 on September 22nd, 2010

WHAT IS GOING ON!!

kendal (not verified)

at 16:40 on September 22nd, 2010

the website where you look up the lot number is not working can anyone tell me how to know if i have a bad can??

Lacey Kercher (not verified)

at 17:19 on September 22nd, 2010

here are two lot numbers that are defected...90372T20 AND 90336T20 ...Its on the bottom of the container the first numbers on the left.

RT (not verified)

at 17:38 on September 22nd, 2010

Thank you for that info since the website is down and the hotline is busy. Are those the only lots affected, if you know?

Lacey Kercher (not verified)

at 18:04 on September 22nd, 2010

those are the only two lot numbers we have ,and both are defected ...it doesnt give a list of defected formulas ,so we had to put both in and by the time we did that the web site was going down...VERY DISTURBING !!!!