Similac Recall: Bugs Found in Instant Powder Baby Formula, 5 Million Cans of Similac Recalled

Stop using Similac Baby Formula immediately until you know for sure whether or not the product that you have is safe. Take your can or tub of Similac powdered infant formula back to the store, even if it's been opened, and ask for a refund. If you are concerned about your baby having injected tainted Similac formula, then make the parental call and go see the doctor if you deem it prudent.

Abbott Laboratories issued a voluntary recall (which means they did it before the government stepped in) of approximately 5,000,000 cans of Similac Powdered Infant Formula because bugs were found in some of their product at a Massachusetts plant.

The bug? Some type of beetle, which Abbott Labs claims would not be fatal for a baby if it were injested, but it would cause the baby to feel bad and not want to eat. According to the FDA, "... these beetles poses no immediate health risk, there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae, could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort and refusal to eat as a result of small insect parts irritating the GI tract. If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, a physician should be consulted."

The FDA has a Similac information website that explains only POWDERED Similac formulas are impacted here: "no Abbott liquid infant formulas are impacted. Products not involved in the recall include all Abbott Nutrition liquid ready-to-feed and concentrated infant formulas and all powder and liquid specialty formulas, such as Similac Expert Care(TM) Alimentum(R), Elecare(R), Similac Expert Care(TM) Neosure(R), Similac(R) Human Milk Fortifier, and metabolic formulas for inherited disorders."

Similac Recall Hotline is 1 (800) 986-8850.

For more information, check out the Similac Recall website (which has been crashing periodically all morning) or try the Similac Recall hotline set up by Abbott Labs: 1-800-986-8850.

From our best efforts, since we were unable after repeated attempts to access the Similac site online, we surfed the web and hopefully located the actual products possibly impacted and here are the details:

Similac Advance - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Advance EarlyShield - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Sensitive - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Isomil Advance - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Sensitive Isomil Soy - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Organic - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Organic and Similac Advance Organic - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Sensitive R.S. - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Sensitive for Spit-Up - 1.45-lb and 2.12-lb

Similac Go & Grow - 1.38-lb

Similac Go & Grow EarlyShield - 1.38-lb

Similac Go & Grow Soy - 1.38-lb

By Bryant Esquenazi on September 23, 2010 11:25 AM