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Walmart keeps Enfamil off shelves after 2 more babies are infected

Update: 1/1: The FDA has completed its testing of unopened cans of Enfamil formula and declared it safe and free from bacteria. But the Lebanon Daily Record has reported that one opened can of the formula at the home of Avery Cornett, the infant who dies after being infected by Cronobacter, tested positive for the bacteria. According to the paper, "CDC laboratory tests of samples provided by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services found Cronobacter bacteria in an opened container of infant formula, an opened bottle of nursery water and prepared infant formula," the agency said Friday. "It is unclear how the contamination occurred."

Update, 12/28: According to a report in Business Week this morning, Cronobacter in formula has infected 128 infants worldwide since the 1950s. Powdered formula is not sterile, and once hydrated becomes a rich environment for the bacteria to grow. To be safe, use powdered formula solution within a couple of hours of mixing it, and remember to wash hands and equipment like bottles and nipples before preparation.

Update, 12/29: For concerned moms, the formula involved is Enfamil Newborn Formula in 12.5-oz. cans, with the lot number ZP1K7G. Walmart will accept returns.

A week after Walmart pulled its supply of Enfamil powdered formula from shelves following the death of a 10-day-old infant from Cronobacter, those shelves are still Enfamil-free, and the CDC and FDA are frantically trying to find the cause of two more cases of infant infection by the deadly bacteria.

The Missouri newborn died suddenly after showing signs of a stomach ache and being rushed to the hospital. The baby, Avery Cornett, had been given Enfamil Premium formula, leading Walmart to pull the product as a precautionary measure. There was no recall, although a spokesperson for the CDC said that Cronobacter has sometimes been found in powdered formulas.

The formula has since tested clear of the bacteria.

Then, several days later, a baby in Illinois tested positive for the same bacteria. That baby, who had been exposed to several brands of formula along with other foods, was recovering in the hospital on December 25, when Reuters reported a third case of an infant infected with Cronobacter. This baby had not consumed any Enfamil.

The Oklahoma four-week-old has been treated and released from hospital.

Now, the FDA and CDC are searching for the source of the bacteria by testing opened containers with liquid and powdered formula, along with bottled distilled water that the Missouri newborn drank. They are also testing closed bottles and cans from the lot collected from the Cornett family, the hospital and Wal-Mart.

We'll update this story as news comes in.

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Comment by Anna DUncan on January 13, 2012 at 12:33pm: I noticed that this article said that the nursery water also tested positive...does anyone have info on that? I use Gerber nursery water and formula. I think it has to do with not refrigerating the water, which the container says to do once opened. This is all so scary, glad my son only has another month of formula!

Comment by Stephanie Lauren Mullins on January 12, 2012 at 11:57pm: Omg this is terrible my heart goes out to those families so sad. I am so glad I chose to BF this baby. My first we used Smilac because its what WIC offered us. Its scary because you never expect something like that to happen you put your trust in these companies to make whats best for your baby and then this happens! Unacceptable!

Comment by msdebbied on January 12, 2012 at 11:22am: People get serious nothing in life is safe. Its sad that these precious babies are getting sick and dying I feel it for everyone involved. I use enfamil and similac stilling using it and everything ok so far. I usually use hot water or if not I put the baby bottle in a warmer.My prayers go out to everyone.

Comment by Dimples on January 5, 2012 at 11:08am: I breastfed for two weeks, sad I chose to use formula, however, since I have to go back to work I didn't want to leak out. (so embarrassing). I use Gerber Good-start formula ,I used it for my daughter and the formula is great. It is use from 0-12 months; which is also pretty cool. I will never use Enfamil it just never know when something will go wrong we them again. Sad thing is hospitals are still using Enfamil.

Comment by mama0313 on January 1, 2012 at 11:39pm: gosh i just gave away all my formula on craigslist since we have breastfeed exclusively for going on almost 10m now. i knew someone else could use it but now i'm scared. i hope i didn't give away any bad formula! i know my baby is safe bc i bf but i feel sad for other badies that mom can't bf for any number of reasons and they are dieing. that is so scary!

Comment by Mkgowdy on December 30, 2011 at 1:15am: That is so scary. I am so glad I chose to BF and that my baby is doing so well with it.

Comment by GabrielMarcSamuel on December 29, 2011 at 6:54pm: Scary stuff. I hope they figure out why this is happening to the poor babies.

Comment by GabrielMarcSamuel on December 29, 2011 at 6:52pm: Two of the 3 babies are recovering and one had other formulas besides Enfamil. One of the babies did not have Enfamil at all. The batch was retested and was negative according to above. It could have been the water the powered formula was mixed with. Powered formula is not sterile to begin with. My pediatrician group never recommended it and advised me to boil tap water if I was going to use it. Since then I have tried to only use powered formula in an emergency. The Enfamil website states that powered formula is not sterile as well. I've been nervous to use it in general.

Comment by Candace Mayes on December 29, 2011 at 4:16pm: Good thing we use Similac

Comment by shooshoosquash on December 29, 2011 at 3:46pm: @shondy2000 they are recalling Enfamil Newborn Formula with lot # ZP1K7G. I just did a search on Yahoo and found it. Hope this helps