Perrigo (PRGO) is recalling certain Gerber Good Start powdered infant formula products in the US due to a potential bacterial contamination.
The Dublin-based company said it was recalling certain lots of Gerber Good Start SoothePro Powdered Infant Formula in the US, that were made at its Gateway Eau Claire, Wis., facility from Jan. 2 to Jan. 18, according to a filing with US Food and Drug Administration.
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The product is being recalled out of "an abundance of caution" due to the potential presence of Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that can be found in powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas and starches, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The company said no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of this bacteria, no adverse events have been reported and no other products manufactured at this facility or any other of Perrigo’s facilities are affected by this recall.
This product is sold at retailers across the US. Consumers who purchased the product after March 5 are being advised to check a list of lot codes and “use by” dates, which can be found on the bottom of the package.
Recall Codes Listed
No other lot codes are affected by this recall. Any consumers who purchased product with matching codes should discontinue use and dispose of the product.
Gerber Good Start SoothePro 12.4 oz:
300357651Z – USE BY 04JUL2024
300457651Z – USE BY 05JUL2024
300557651Z – USE BY 06JUL2024
300557652Z – USE BY 06JUL2024
300757651Z – USE BY 08JUL2024
300857651Z – USE BY 09JUL2024
301057651Z – USE BY 11JUL2024
301057652Z – USE BY 11JUL2024
301157651Z – USE BY 12JUL2024
Gerber Good Start SoothePro 30.6 oz:
301357652Z – USE BY 14JUL2024
301457652Z – USE BY 15JUL2024
301557651Z – USE BY 16JUL2024
Gerber Good Start SoothePro 19.4 oz:
301557652Z – USE BY 16JUL2024I
Consumers can request refunds for impacted products and find more information about Gerber Good Start by calling the Gerber Parent Resource Center anytime at 1-800-777-7690.
Getting sick from Cronobacter does not happen often, but infections in infants can be deadly, the CDC said.
Unlike other foodborne illnesses, the CDC said, Cronobacter sakazakii infection is not a nationally notifiable condition and is not reportable in most states, so the true number of annual cases is unknown.
CCD Tracks Illness Reports
From January 2002 to July 2022, the CDC said it received 76 reports of severe Cronobacter illnesses among infants.
A recent report estimates that about 20% of infants with meningitis or bloodstream infections due to Cronobacter in the US have died. Worldwide, about 40% of infants reported to have Cronobacter meningitis or bloodstream infections have died.
Perrigo acquired Nestlé's Gateway Eau Claire plant, along with the US and Canadian rights to the Good Start infant formula brand, on Nov. 1.
Perrigo operates the Good Start infant formula brand in the United States and Canada while Nestlé operates the Good Start infant formula brand for Women Infants and Children contracts.
Some of the company's brands include Burt's Bees, Compeed, Dr. Fresh, Firefly, Good Sense, Mederma, Nasonex, Plackers, Prevacid24HR, REACH, Rembrandt, and Steripod.
Last month, Perrigo posted fourth-quarter adjusted earnings of 75 cents a share, beating the Zacks consensus estimate of 70 cents. Sales increased 4.6% year over year to $1.16 billion, but missed the Zacks estimate of $1.20 billion.
