A Las Vegas baby is recovering after fighting for his life in the ICU and turning ‘pepper red’ when he consumed Abbott baby formula recalled last week over fears it could cause bacterial infections.
Two-month-old Dah’Veon Quantez Jones became the latest infant to get sick from consuming baby formula after US health officials urgently warned parents against using three popular brand – Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare.
The Food and Drug Administration said last Thursday that the Abbott-manufactured formulas had been linked to the dangerous bacterial infection Cronobacter after an infant died and three others fell ill.
On Sunday, Dah’Veon’s parents noticed he was in pain and took him to Sunrise Hospital, where the infant was treated for severe dehydration, a rash and bowel issues.
‘I just checked his temperature and it’s 104, and then he is moaning and groaning, and he is red, like pepper red,’ Dah’Veon’s grandmother, Mellon Ko, told local news station 8NewsNow.
As of Tuesday evening, Dah’Veon appeared to be recovering, with Ko posting on Facebook that he had been discharged from the hospital.
Two-month-old Dah’Veon Quantez Jones became seriously ill after consuming recalled Abbott baby formula. He was treated in the ICU for severe dehydration, a rash and bowel issues
Dah’Veon’s grandmother, Melon Ko (pictured), said he had a 104F fever and was ‘pepper red’
Ko has said that Dah’Veon is her daughter’s first child. Above, Dah’Veon pictured with his mom, Ahviance Collins
Dah’Veon’s family said he consumed Abbott baby formula. The Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday that the Abbott-manufactured formulas had been linked to dangerous bacterial infection Cronobacter, after an infant died and three others fell ill
How to check if your child’s formula has been affected
FDA said buyers should avoid Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas if they meet all of the following criteria:
- First two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
- The code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and
- The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later
The recalled products can be identified by examining the number on the bottom of each container.
Parents can also type in the code on the bottom of the package at similacrecall.com to see whether their product is affected or call 800-986-8540.
Parents can identify the recalled products by number on the bottom of each container.
Ko asked on Facebook for prayers, noting that Dah’Veon is her daughter Ahviance Collins’ first child.
The grandmother said she is now worried that Dah’Veon could continue to have issues with the new formula he is prescribed.
The powdered baby formula is used in several prescribed and over-the-counter products made by Abbott at its Michigan plant.
‘It has me scared because when he gets released, of course they are going to release him with some other types of formula, and who is to say this formula isn’t going to have a recall,’ Ko said.
‘I’ve been hearing that there are moms out here making breast milk for these kids because of this situation,’ she told 8NewsNow.
On February 17, the FDA warned buyers they should avoid Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas if they have a serial number starting with 22 through 37, contain K8, SH, or Z2 and have an expiration date of April 1, 2022 or later.
The product was distributed throughout the US and overseas, the company said in a statement.
Dr Christina Madison, a pharmacist, told the outlet: ‘When you go to the store, you have a brand name and then you have a generic name so it’s the same thing with baby formula where they might have one manufacturer but several different products that they make.’
‘You think you are buying a different product, but really you are just buying the same product under a different name,’ she added.
Parents can type in the code on the bottom of the package at similacrecall.com to see whether their product is affected or call 800-986-8540.
The Food and Drug administration has received four consumer complaints of bacterial infections related to the recalled formulas, with one death reported in the US. It did not reveal any information on the death or in which state the infant died.
The agency said one of the cases involved salmonella and three involved Cronobacter sakazakiim, a rare but dangerous germ that can cause fever, diarrhea and urinary infections, and if severe, could lead to sepsis and brain swelling (meningitis).
Babies two-months and younger are more likely to develop far more serious complications. The agency also recommends parents using liquid baby formula, which is specifically made to be sterile.
The Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) said buyers should avoid three popular baby formulas, including Similac (pictured) Alimentum and EleCare after four infants were hospitalized, one who later died, after consuming the formula
Parents can also type in the code on the bottom of the package at similacrecall.com to see whether their product is affected or call 800-986-8540
FDA staff are now inspecting Abbott’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan, where environmental samples tested positive for the Cronobacter bacteria.
Inspectors have also uncovered potential manufacturing problems, and past records showing the destruction of formula due to bacterial contamination.
‘We’re working diligently with our partners to investigate complaints related to these products, which we recognize include infant formula produced at this facility, while we work to resolve this safety concern as quickly as possible,’ said FDA Deputy Commissioner Frank Yiannas.
The FDA said it is working with federal and local authorities in Minnesota, Ohio and Texas- the states where the infant infections were reported.
The company said its own testing of finished product didn’t detect any contamination. The recall does not affect liquid infant formulas or any other Abbott products.
Abbott could not specify how many units the recall includes, but brands like Similac are among the best-selling formulas in the US and overseas.
‘We value the trust parents place in us for high quality and safe nutrition and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep that trust and resolve this situation,’ a company spokeswoman said in a statement.
Abbott, one of the country’s largest infant formula makers, said it is recalling all potentially affected products manufactured at their facility in Michigan
