STURGIS, MI - After facing a setback due to flooding damage, the Abbott Nutrition factory in Sturgis is back at it and producing baby formula.
The plant had previously restarted baby formula production on June 4 after the facility stopped production for months, following an FDA investigation in February. However, the plant was closed again on June 15 after severe storms in West Michigan caused flooding at the facility. Because of the flooding, production has stopped on the EleCare Specialty formula to allow the plant to assess damage and re-sanitize the facility.
Abott is a major supplier of baby formula in the United States. Abott produces a variety of formula products, including specialty formulas for babies with sensitive stomachs or other health concerns, such as EleCare.
Production of EleCare was restored at Sturgis following a July 1 reboot, Abbott spokesman John Koval told the Associated Press.
According to Koval, the plant is working to restart Similac production as soon as possible and more information will be provided when it becomes available.
MLive previously reported that Michigan contracts with Abbott exclusively to provide formula for families enrolled in the federally funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, which aids more than 200,000 mothers, babies and children every month younger than 5.
The plant closures came at a time when formula was already difficult to find due to pandemic supply chain disruptions. Abbott Nutrition recalled products linked to harmful bacteria. The possible contamination, which killed two children, stopped production at the pharmaceutical company’s Sturgis plant and led to an FDA investigation of the facility.
According to the AP, the FDA was investigating four bacterial infections among infants, which led to two deaths, who consumed powdered formula from the plant. The company says its products have not been directly linked to the infections, which involved different bacterial strains, according to the AP.
FDA inspectors eventually uncovered a host of violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof and lax safety protocols, reported the AP.
On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced plans to help overseas makers of infant formula that have sent supplies, under emergency approval to address the shortfall, secure long-term authorization to market their formula in the U.S., according to the AP.
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