The Food and Drug Administration has just updated the recall of infant formulas by Abbott saying on its website that the recall affects about 5 million containers of the company's Similac - brand powdered infant formulas including Isomil and Go& Grow.
Abbott issued the voluntary recall last week for millions of infant formulas because of possible contamination of insect pieces, that is, beetles and their larvae.
The FDA says that the contaminant would not pose any immediate risk for infants, but it advises parents to seek medical attention if their babies experience irritation in the stomach or if they refuse foods. Insect pieces in the infant formulas can find their way into the gastrointestinal tract, causing babies to have an upset stomach or to refuse food.
The recall affects both milk and soy based formulas distributed in the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam and some Caribbean nations, Abbott says on its press release about the recall.
The federal government's Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) health and nutrition program also distributes at least 12 of the recalled infant formulas, the FDA reports.
The food regulator advises consumers to check if the formulas they have purchased are affected by the recall.
The first thing they need to do is check out the product lot number based on which, they can check the database hosted either on the FDA's website at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/infantformula/index.cfm#InfantFormula or the manufacturer's website at http://www.similac.com/recall/lookup.aspx. Or simply call Abbott at 800 986-8850, 24 hours a day Monday through Friday.
The following products are affected by the recall: Infant Formula Products
Go & Grow Milk EarlyShield Powder
Go & Grow Milk Powder
Go & Grow Milk with EarlyShield
Go & Grow Soy EarlyShield Powder
Go & Grow Soy Powder
Isomil Advance EarlyShield Powder
Isomil Advance Powder
Isomil Powder
Similac Advance EarlyShield Powder
Similac Advance EarlyShield Powder Can
Similac Advance EarlyShield Powder Luxor
Similac Advance Iron Powder Lcp
Similac Advance LCP with Iron Powder
Similac Advance Powder
Similac Advance Powder Luxor
Similac Go & Grow Powder W/Lcps
Similac Go & Grow Soy Powder Luxor
Similac Go & Grow Soy W/lcps Powder
Similac Organic Powder
Similac Organic Powder Luxor
Similac Sensitive EarlyShield Powder
Similac Sensitive Powder Luxor
Similac Sensitive R.S. Powder
Similac Sensitive Sales
Swi Advance Powder-Wic
Abbott says that the recall does not affect any Abbott liquid infant formulas, including all Abbott Nutrition liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated infant formulas and all powder and liquid specialty formulas, such as Similac Expert Care™ Alimentum®, Elecare ®, Similac Expert Care™ Neosure ®, Similac® Human Milk Fortifier, and metabolic formulas for inherited disorders.
The FDA does not have authority to approve or disapprove an infant formula. But it does require all infant formulas meet certain nutrition standards.
Here are a few things parents need to know about infant formulas
* Infant formulas offer more nutrients than the standards to meet the nutrition needs of infants. The FDA says infants fed infant formulas do not need additional nutrients unless they are being fed a low-iron formula.
* Babies need to use an infant formula with about 12 milligrams of iron per liter. If they use a low iron formula, they need a supplemental source of iron, particularly if they are older than 4 months.
*. Whole cow's milk is not adequate nutritionwise for infants, defined as babies youpnger than 12 months old. Cow milk contains little iron. Another problem with cow milk is that it can cause irritation of the bowel in infants younger than 6 months leading a small loss of blood, the FDA says. It is also observed that cow-milk based infant formulas can cause some problems like constipation as well.
Jimmy Downs and editing by Rachel Stockton
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