Date: January 5, 2024
Attention: All Providers
Effective: December 30, 2023
Call to action: Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) received notice of an urgent recall from The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder products due to possible Cronobacter sakazakii contamination.
The FDA is alerting parents, caregivers and health care providers not to use the recalled products. These recalled powdered infant formulas may be contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause severe illness caused by food contamination. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this recall, and it is likely most of the product that was distributed in the U.S. has already been consumed.
Which formulas are included in the recall?
Consumers who have Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Infant Formula Powder with batch codes below should stop using it and throw it away or contact Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition for a refund:
ZL3FHG (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FMH (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FPE (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FQD (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FRW (19.8 oz cans)
ZL3FXJ (12.6 oz cans)
The products have a UPC Code of 300871239418 or 300871239456 and “Use By Date” of 1 Jan 2025.
If your lot number is not in this range, your lot is safe and you can continue to use the formula.
Please contact Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition at 866-534-9986 or by email at consumer.relations@rb.com and they will help verify if this product was impacted and offer a total refund.
How this impacts providers: Based on the guidance, parents and caregivers should not use the affected products and should take it to the store for refund and exchange. If our Members/your patients are having difficulty finding Nutramigen LGG formula, they can contact their WIC office to discuss options, click here to learn more.
Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine). It may also cause bowel damage and spread through the blood to other parts of the body. Symptoms to watch for:
Poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths and abnormal movements.
Next steps for providers: The health and wellbeing of our Members/your patients is Texas Children’s Health Plan’s top priority. Providers should be prepared to receive inquiries from parents/caregivers regarding this important safety recall and remain current on the latest information on the matter.
Resources:
Find more about the recall at the Food and Drug Administration
Find more about the recall from Enfamil
To learn more about Cronobacter, please visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Learn more on the recall from Texas WIC
If you have any questions, please email Provider Relations at:providerrelations@texaschildrens.org.
For access to all Provider Alerts,log into:
www.thecheckup.org or www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/for-providers.
