Health: Baby Formula Recall

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Hundreds of Thousands of Bottles of Baby Formula Recalled

 

POSTED: 2358 GMT (0758 HKT), September 15, 2006

 

 

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Abbott health care company is recalling hundreds

of thousands of bottles of infant formula because they might not have

enough vitamin C.

 

The recall is for approximately 100,000 32-ounce plastic bottles of

Similac Alimentum Advance liquid formula and approximately 200,000

bottles of Similac Advance with Iron, Abbott spokeswoman Tracey Noe said

Friday.

 

The bottles, distributed by Abbott's Ross Products division, are missing

a layer of material that keeps air out of the bottle, Noe said. When

oxygen enters the bottle, it causes the vitamin C to break down over

time, she said.

 

If infants drink formula without enough vitamin C for two to four weeks,

they could start exhibiting symptoms of vitamin C deficiency, which

include irritability with generalized tenderness, the company said in a

release. So far, Abbott has received no medical complaints.

 

The Similac Alimentum Advance has stock code 57512, lot number 401895V

and use-by 1 May 2007 printed on the back of the bottle; the Similac

Advance with Iron has stock code 55961, lot numbers 40177RH or 40172RH

and use-by 1 November 2007. Some of the bottles may have been included

in Similac Advance Hospital Discharge Kits -- stock code 58986 and lot

number 41699D5 are printed on the back of the bear tag attached to the kit.

 

Abbott, formerly known as Abbott Laboratories, is based in suburban Chicago.

 

Consumers with questions can contact Abbott's Ross Products division at

800-624-3412.

 

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.