Infant milk banned for being prone to bacteria

Iman Abdullah Al Ali, Staff Reporter

The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) withdrew batches of infant  milk “Similac Human Milk Fortifer Alimentum and EleCare”, due to the possibility of being contaminated with harmful bacteria.

The ministry ordered the manufacturer to withdraw the batches from the market and asked pharmacies to stop dispensing them.

The ministry sent a circular to all health facilities and primary health care practitioners in which it clarified that the milk manufacturer preemptively withdrew a number of batches of the aforementioned milk, after receiving four complaints from consumers stating that the products might be contaminated with Salmonella and Chronobacter bacteria.

According to the ministry, the batches mentioned in complaints were manufactured at the Abbott Sturgis Nutrition factory in Michigan, which was inspected, to be found that it was contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria.

The company affirmed that the other products were not contaminated.