Cronobacter Support
02-17-2009, 05:47 PM
Powdered Infant Formula--Why this non-sterile product could be a "formula" for fatality in premature and immuno-compromised babies.
Here at the Law Office of Nicholas Stein, we believe that parents have the right to full information about infant feeding products, including the risks associated with the use of powdered baby formula.
Many parents assume that powdered infant formulas are sterile and safe to use. This is a misconception. Powdered infant formulas are not sterile products and may be contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, a highly virulent, dangerous bacteria.
In infants, Enterobackter sakazakii infections are associated with serious, sometimes fatal conditions including meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines) and bacteremia (bacteria in the blood).
Premature babies at greatest risk
While the risk of infection is substantially higher for neonates (new born infants less than 30 days old), low-birth weight, premature and immunocompromised babies, all infants are susceptible to infection. According to the International Baby Food Action Network (IFBAN), E. sakazakii has been isolated from as many as 14% of samples tested for Enterobacteriaceae.
The average baby who relies upon powdered infant formula (as opposed to breast-milk or sterile liquid formula) as its sole source of food for the first six months of life will consume 40-45 tins of formula. Again, up to 14% of these tins selected from supermarket and pharmacy shelves may be contaminated.
Talk with your doctor...and us if you need to
While the risk of infection varies greatly from baby to baby, we encourage you to ask your obstetrician, pediatrician or midwife about the pros and cons of feeding powdered infant formula.
If you would like further information about powdered infant formula contamination or if you believe that your child may have been damaged by consuming contaminated formula, please contact the Law Office of Nicholas Stein at (800) 948-6002.
Here at the Law Office of Nicholas Stein, we believe that parents have the right to full information about infant feeding products, including the risks associated with the use of powdered baby formula.
Many parents assume that powdered infant formulas are sterile and safe to use. This is a misconception. Powdered infant formulas are not sterile products and may be contaminated with Enterobacter sakazakii, a highly virulent, dangerous bacteria.
In infants, Enterobackter sakazakii infections are associated with serious, sometimes fatal conditions including meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis (a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines) and bacteremia (bacteria in the blood).
Premature babies at greatest risk
While the risk of infection is substantially higher for neonates (new born infants less than 30 days old), low-birth weight, premature and immunocompromised babies, all infants are susceptible to infection. According to the International Baby Food Action Network (IFBAN), E. sakazakii has been isolated from as many as 14% of samples tested for Enterobacteriaceae.
The average baby who relies upon powdered infant formula (as opposed to breast-milk or sterile liquid formula) as its sole source of food for the first six months of life will consume 40-45 tins of formula. Again, up to 14% of these tins selected from supermarket and pharmacy shelves may be contaminated.
Talk with your doctor...and us if you need to
While the risk of infection varies greatly from baby to baby, we encourage you to ask your obstetrician, pediatrician or midwife about the pros and cons of feeding powdered infant formula.
If you would like further information about powdered infant formula contamination or if you believe that your child may have been damaged by consuming contaminated formula, please contact the Law Office of Nicholas Stein at (800) 948-6002.