Bacteria found in milk powder

Parents, of all people, would have been alerted to the recent case of the death of an infant in the United States due to ingesting contaminated milk powder. The issue launched a probe into baby formulas… is your baby safe?

US Milk powder Enfamil contaminated with cronobacter

We won't blame you if your first thought was—China again? No one can forget the infamous melamine contamination found in baby formula back in 2008. But this time around, the contaminated milk powder was discovered in the United States and three infants have been tested positive for the infection; one allegedly even died from consumption.

Barbara Reynolds a spokes person from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, revealed in the latest case, that a baby in Oklahoma was tested positive for Cronobacter, which is a bacteria linked to rare illnesses in newborn babies -- and that has been found in milk-based baby formula.

This baby that tested positive in recent weeks did not consume Enfamil formula, according to Leslea Bennett-Webb of the Oklahoma Department of Health.

This is the third Cronobacter case in recent weeks, after a baby in Missouri died and another child is now recovering in Illinois, both confirmed to have been infected with Cronobacter. According to the FDA, previous cases involved a 10-day-old Missouri baby who ingested the Enfamil Premium formula while the second case—an infant from Illinois -- consumed a variety of brands apart from the above-mentioned brand, including numerous over-the-counter products.

Even though many US retailers, namely Walmart, stopped selling Enfamil; the federal investigation that is going on has found no link between the illnesses and the above-said formula.

No link of connection

Mead Johnson spokesman, Chris Perille said: “There’s no indication of any connection whatsoever to any of our products.”

Chris Braden of the CDC heading the Division of Foodborne, Waterboarne and Environmental Diseases, said that the Cronobacter bacteria “can be found in a lot of different places. Even if these infants were on powdered infant formula, and even the same powdered infant formula, we still don’t know yet if that’s the source of their infections.”

Safe in Singapore

Those were cases reported in the States, what about here on our soil? Well, parents can heave a huge sigh of relief because the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) confirmed that the contaminated milk powder that allegedly caused that infant death in USA, Enfamil PREMIUM Newborn, was not imported into Singapore.

The Enfamil infant formula sold here is Enfamil Enfalac Prosobee—a different product that is definitely safe for consumption. Since infant formula is classified as a high-risk food product, AVA frequently tests samples of the imported infant formula as part of its surveillance and inspection procedures. AVA requires that importers submit periodic lab test reports or health certs to ensure safety of these formulas and the formulas are also tested for microbiological pathogens.

Helpful links:

Encouraging babies to try new food

Breast milk may not be the best

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Written by

Felicia Chin

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