Enfamil Formula Probe

Wal-Mart announced Wednesday it has pulled Enfamil Premium Newborn formula from its

store shelves nationwide after the death in Missouri of a newborn boy who was given the

formula. The move was a precautionary measure, Wal-Mart said. No government or

manufacturer recall had been issued as of Thursday, December 22.

Mead Johnson Nutrition said the lot of 12.5-ounce cans had tested negative for the

suspected rare bacterium, Cronobacter sakazakii, before being shipped. The lot number

ZP1K7G is stamped on the bottom of the formula can.

Public health experts are investigating the source of the possible contamination and also

whether any patient or environmental factors such as the water used in preparing the

powdered formula played a part. Mead Johnson is preparing a public statement to be

posted to its Enfamil.com website.

Parents are encouraged to follow World Health Organization guidelines for safely preparing

powdered infant formula. These include: washing your hands with soap and water, cleaning all

feeding equipment in hot, soapy water and preparing enough

formula for just one feeding at a time.

As we go into a long holiday weekend (the AAP is closed until Tuesday, December 27),

updated information may appear on the FDA.gov, CDC.gov, Missouri Department of Health ( http://health.mo.gov ) and Enfamil.com websites.

David Roos, M.D.