Vietnam orders recall of Abbott formula products after US alert

The agency cited reports by the International Food Safety Authorities Network (INFOSAN) on food safety related incidents regarding the fact that some children were infected with the Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella newport bacteria after consuming formula food products produced at a factory by Abbott Nutrition in the U.S.

U.S. customers were warned of the contamination after the incident which affected four children, one of whom has died. The cause of death has not been confirmed as a Cronobacter infection, the food safety authority said.

In a Feb. 17 press release on Abbott's website, the firm has issued a recall for certain powder formulas including Similac, Alimentum and Elecare manufactured at a plant in Sturgis, Michigan. The products recalled have a multi-digit number on the bottom of the container starting with 22 and ending with 37, is marked K8, SH or Z2 and has an expiration date of Apr. 1, 2022, or after.

The Vietnamese agency has contacted the companies that imported the products and asked that they are recalled. It has also warned consumers not to use such products and inform authorities if they find them in the market.