Reckitt/Mead Johnson has voluntarily recalled over 675,000 cans of its Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products over risks that the product could potentially cause a bacterial infection.
The specialty formula — which is typically given to infants allergic to cow’s milk — tested positive for the pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii by the Israeli Ministry of Health, according to a press release issued by the US Food and Drug Administration on Sunday.
The Cronobacter bacteria, although found naturally in the environment, can cause life-threatening symptoms in infants less than 1 year old, including fever, low energy and seizures, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Affected batch numbers include: ZL3FHG, ZL3FMH, ZL3FPE, ZL3FQD, ZL3FRW and ZL3FXJ.
The products either come in a 12.6-ounce or 19.8-ounce can and have a “use by date” of Jan. 1, 2025, and a universal product code of 300871239418 or 300871239456, per the FDA.
The government agency said that consumers with affected formula “should stop using it and throw it away or contact Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition for a refund.”
A spokesperson for the New Jersey-based pediatric nutrition company said the formula included in the voluntary recall was manufactured in June 2023, and primarily distributed between June and August 2023.
“When we were alerted in December to a potential for cross-contamination in a product sample outside the US, both Reckitt/Mead Johnson and the US FDA tested samples from the batch in question and all tests have come back negative,” the rep told The Post on Monday.
“However, Reckitt/Mead Johnson understands the incredible responsibility we have in providing what is often the sole nutrition for infants, and there can be no short cuts for this vulnerable population – therefore, we chose to recall select batches of Nutramigen out of an abundance of caution.”
Another popular children’s’ food product — WanaBana puree pouches — were also recently recalled after the FDA warned that they contain “extremely high concentrations of lead.”
Lead, which is toxic to humans, is especially difficult to spot in children, who may experience slowed growth and development, learning and behavior problems or hearing and speech problems, according to the CDC.
Since the recall first announced in October, WanaBana agreed to voluntarily recall all of its apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches, regardless of expiration, the FDA said.
However, as of Dec. 13, the WanaBana apple cinnamon fruit puree pouches were still sitting on store shelves at “at several Dollar Tree stores in multiple states,” the FDA said.
And as of Dec. 19, the agency received reports that the lead-contaminated product “may till be on shelves at Family Dollar/Dollar Tree combination stores.”
In an update posted on Dec. 26, the FDA did not say that WanaBana’s apple cinnamon-flavored pouches had been removed from store shelves, and announced that reports of adverse events potentially linked to the recalled prodict ticked higher, to 82.
Often marketed as a healthy, on-the-go snack, WanaBana’s apple cinnamon puree contains 50 calories in one 71-gram pouch, including 12 grams of carbs, nine grams of sugars, and two grams of fiber.
The flavor is not currently on WanaBana’s website, which instead promotes flavors like mango, kale and spinach, banana and strawberry, plus options designed for babies like peach, carrot and apply and quinoa flour.
Representatives for WanaBana did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
