Avellon Williams
TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO- Similac and Pedialyte Electrolyte Solution have been recalled by Abbott Laboratories because their bottle caps were defective, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
According to the official recall, which was first announced on Oct. 14, less than 1% of the bottles in question may have defective caps. As a result, the bottles “may not have sealed completely, which could lead to spoilage,” the company said in a statement, adding that spoiled products may cause diarrhea and vomiting if consumed.
The recalled products were manufactured by Abbott at its Columbus, Ohio, plant. In the U.S., they were primarily distributed to hospitals, doctors’ offices, distributors and retailers. It was noted that a single lot was shipped to Barbados, Bermuda, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Croix and St. Thomas; and two lots were shipped to Canada, Curacao, Panama, and Trinidad and Tobago.
“This recall does not include any other liquid or powder formula brands or other nutrition products produced in our Columbus facility or elsewhere within our global nutrition manufacturing network,” Abbott further specified. “It also does not include any amino acid-based formulas or metabolic nutrition formulas.”
Further, the company explained, “This recall equates to less than one day’s worth of the total number of ounces of infant formula fed in the U.S. and is not expected to impact the overall U.S. infant formula supply.”
On a different production line, Abbott continues to produce Similac infant formula and liquid formula products for hospitals and healthcare providers’ offices.
As a result of the recall, Abbott is advising consumers not to use any of the recalled products.
Additional questions about Abbott products can be directed to Abbott’s Consumer Relations hotlines. A healthcare provider or a healthcare professional should be contacted if the consumer has questions about their child’s health or feeding.
Joe Manning, the executive vice president of nutritional products at Abbott, said, “we take our responsibility to deliver high-quality products very seriously.”
He further said, “we internally identified the issue, are addressing it, and will work with our customers to minimize inconvenience and get them the products they need.”
