FDA update on the investigation of Cronobacter infections in powdered infant formula

FDA and CDC issued updates on their investigation of Cronobacter in infant formula. Five environmental subsamples collected from the Sturgis, MI, facility were positive for Cronobacter sakazakii; four samples collected by the FDA and one by Abbott detected four. The positive Cronobacter sakazakii environmental samples at the Sturgis, MI, facility have been analyzed using WGS, revealing five different strains of Cronobacter sakazakii. The analysis performed by WGS did not find these samples from patients to be closely genetically related to the multiple strains of Cronobacter found in the environmental samples obtained from Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI facility. Product samples collected by FDA at the facility were analyzed for Cronobacter by FDA and were found negative. In 2022 FDA inspected the facility and issued a 483 that included that the company did not establish a system that assured that infant formula does not become contaminated by microorganisms in the formula or the processing environment. They also did not assure that all surfaces that contacted infant formula were maintained clean.  @ https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery