The Society: Botulism leads to milk formula recall

The Pharmaceutical Journal Vol 267 No 7161 p217-221
18 August 2001

Botulism leads to milk formula recall

SMA Nutrition is recalling two of its infant milk formula powders following a recent case of infant botulism. The products affected are batches of SMA Gold and SMA White infant milk formula powders (see recalls).

SMA Nutrition says that the recall has been made as a precautionary measure. A baby was found to have contracted infant botulism after being fed from a can of SMA infant formula from batches involved in the recall.

Dr Jon Bell, deputy chief executive and director of food safety, Food Standards Agency, says: “There is no reason to believe that this is anything but a one-off incident. Infant botulism is extremely rare. There have only been six cases ever reported in the UK.”

Dr Bell adds that the batches of infant milk formula recalled have been on sale for over two years and that this is the only case of infant botulism that has occurred during this time.

Parents are being asked to check expiry dates on the products that they have. However, SMA Nutrition says that because the expiry date is imminent (October and November 2001) few of the recalled cans are expected to be in homes or in the supply chain.

Mr Don Barret, director of corporate affairs, Wyeth (of which SMA Nutrition is a division), told The Journal that it was therefore unlikely that pharmacists would have the products returned to them.