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http://www.cnn.com/2002/US/11/02/formula.recall/index.html

Infant formula recalled, 1.5 million cans

FDA testing shows E. sakazakii contamination

Saturday, November 2, 2002 Posted: 10:38 AM EST (1538 GMT)

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RELATED • Wyeth Nutritionals Inc.  • Food and Drug Administration

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced the recall of 1.5 million cans of powdered infant formula that may contain a pathogen that could be very dangerous to premature or newborn infants.

The formula, manufactured by Wyeth Nutritionals at its facility in Georgia, Vermont, is sold nationally under many different brand names at retail stores and pharmacies.

FDA testing at the Wyeth plant found contamination by a food-borne pathogen called Enterobacter sakazakii (E. sakazakii).

In rare cases, E. sakazakii can cause bacteria in the blood, meningitis or necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal infection. Those most at risk would be premature infants, newborns or babies with weakened immune systems.

A statement from Wyeth says that its powdered formula is marketed for healthy, full-term infants.

No illnesses have been reported so far, a statement from the FDA said.

Douglas Petkus, a spokesman for Wyeth, said about a million cans had been distributed to stores -- the others were stopped before they got out of the warehouse.

The formula being recalled was manufactured between July 12 and September 25 of this year. It can be identified by the expiration dates on the bottom of the can: 07/28/05, 08/28/05 and 09/28/05.

A six-digit character on the bottom of the cans should alert parents. The first four digits include K12N through K19N, L07N through L30N and N03N through N25N.

Consumers who have bought the affected product can return it to the store where they bought it for a full refund.

Brand names of products

•Baby Basics by Albertson's Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (32 oz. or 908g)

•Baby Basics by Albertson's Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 1 lb. (16 oz. or 454g)

•Baby Basics by Albertson's Formula for older infants with iron, 1 lb. 15.7 oz. (900g)

•Kozy Kids Infant Formula with Iron, 16 oz. (1 lb. or 454g)

•Kozy Kids Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 16 oz. (1 lb. or 454g)

•CVS Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 16 oz. (1 lb. or 454g)

•Hill Country Fare Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (32 oz or 908g)

•Hill Country Fare Infant Formula with Iron, 1 lb. (1 lb. or 454g)

•Hill Country Fare Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (32 oz. or 908g)

•Hill Country Fare Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 1 lb. (16 oz. or 454g)

•HEB Baby Infant Formula with Iron, 32 oz. (2 lbs. or 908g

•American Fare Little Ones Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (32 oz. or 908g)

•American Fare Little Ones Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (32 oz. or 908g)

•American Fare Little Ones Formula for Older Infants with Iron & Calcium, 1 lb. 15.7 (900g)

•HomeBest Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lb. (908g)

•Safeway Select Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lb. (908g)

•Safeway Select Infant Formula 2, 1 lb. 15.7 oz (900g)

•Healthy Baby Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lb. (908g)

•Healthy Baby Infant Formula with Iron, 1 lb. (454g)

•Healthy Baby Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (908g)

•Healthy Baby Formula for Older Infants with Iron, 1 lb. 15.7 oz. (900g)

•Walgreens Infant Formula with Iron, 16 oz. (454g)

•Parent's Choice Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (908g)

•Parent's Choice Infant Formula with Iron, 16 oz. (454g)

•Parent's Choice Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 2 lbs. (908g)

•Parent's Choice Soy Infant Formula with Iron, 35 oz. (1 kg)

•Parent's Choice 2 Infant Formula with Iron, 1 lb. 15.7 oz (900g)

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