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Abbott Labs under criminal investigation over baby formula shortage: Report
[FoxBusiness] The Justice Department is investigating conduct at the Abbott Laboratories infant-formula plant in Sturgis, MichiganThe Justice Department is investigating Abbott Laboratories' baby formula plant in Michigan, which was at the center of a nationwide formula shortage that plagued millions of families, the Wall Street Journal reports. In May, Abbott reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reopen the company’s manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan to help ease a nationwide shortage of baby formula, after the facility was closed due to bacterial contamination. FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said Abbott, under the conditions of the agreement, would correct insanitary conditions that led to the contamination and plant closure. "The DOJ has informed us of its investigation, and we’re cooperating fully," an Abbott spokesman told the Wall Street Journal. The investigation signals further scrutiny of Abbott’s operation of the plant, a major source of baby formula in the U.S. Last January, FDA inspectors found the cronobacter pathogen at the plant after receiving reports of babies who drank the company’s formula and became sick. The bacteria that was detected in the supply found let to at least four infant illnesses-including two deaths. The inspectors also found standing water, damage to drying equipment and defects in the seams of formula cans, among other problems at the Sturgis plant. In a 10-page report published in September, the FDA stated that conditions observed at the Abbott facility "were not consistent with a strong food safety culture." Abbott temporarily halted production at the Sturgis factory in February, and recalled baby formula made at the plant. The move sparked a national formula shortage which forced the U.S. to airlift millions of pounds of powdered formula from overseas. Related: Abbott Laboratories: 2022-07-31 Baby formula crisis WORSENS as out-of-stock levels hit 70%: Parents accuse Biden of forgetting about them and mom struggling to feed twins says 'I'm sure these politicians' babies eat' Abbott Laboratories: 2022-05-27 U.S. FDA expands collaboration with Danone to boost baby formula supply Abbott Laboratories: 2022-05-17 GOP Rep. Kat Cammack reveals video of huge stockpile of baby formula at border center after being slammed by White House for sharing photo of supplies being given to migrants while Americans struggle to feed their children Related: Sturgis: 2022-07-23 America's baby formula shame: Biden's 53 flights of foreign back-up is only enough to feed infants for a week... leaving shelves still bare and forcing moms to take matters into their own hands Sturgis: 2022-06-05 Abbott restarts baby formula plant linked to national shortage Sturgis: 2022-05-19 FDA Suddenly Cares About Babies, Strikes Deal With Formula Maker Posted by: Skidmark 2023-01-21 |
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