We had to find a receipt for my sister-in-law’s Similac today because we had given some canisters of Similac Advance to her as a gift. She isn’t sure they will take the return without a receipt. Plus, the Abbot Laboratories website is overwhelmed and my sister-in-law doesn’t want to take any chances. She is going to return her baby’s Similac anyway, whether it is on the recalled list or not. All of her lot numbers are 6612RB6.
Abbott finally released a list of lot numbers to CBS News at 5 p.m. ET. The Christian Science Monitor reported that the Abbott website and phone number were overwhelmed with responses by so many customers attempting to find out if their products have been recalled or not. So far, Abbott has made it a voluntary recall for the possibility of beetle larvae in their powdered formula. This isn’t Similac’s first recall notice as CBS News also reported in 2006 that Similac had a recall regarding the potency of Vitamin C in their products.
Recall Issues
My family hasn’t had any issues with past recalls. When Tylenol had its recent massive recall of children’s products, we had no problem with our local Wal-Mart, who refunded our money even without a receipt. My sister-in-law doesn’t want to take chances. She’s returning the Similac anyway, and is probably going to use a different kind of formula from now on.
Even though my children are too old for baby formula, my wife and I are shocked by the statements of Similac on the CBS News website. Similac is being recalled for potentially having parts of insects in their formula. To quote Abbott Laboratories, “While the formula containing these beetles poses no immediate health risk, infants who consume formula containing the beetles or their larvae, could experience symptoms of gastrointestinal discomfort…”
Similac is basically saying that it is okay to eat formula with bugs in it. They should have said something like, “If you have this formula, stop using immediately and have your baby evaluated by a doctor.”
Abbot’s Reputation
When is it permissible for an American company to put bugs in it baby formula? This is just as bad as the Chinese company who tainted their powdered milk and caused the deaths of dozens of Chinese babies.
My sister-in-law and her husband are incensed. They work hard and shouldn’t have to worry about whether or not their baby may be puking her guts out for days because of tainted formula. And what about babies with chronic health issues who now may have to be hospitalized? What if the parents can’t afford the hospital visit? What then?
My sister in-law shouldn’t have to worry going to the store and have to pick whether or not she can buy formula for her baby. We live in America, and this shouldn’t be a problem. Even though it’s more expensive, my sister in-law is heading down to her health food store to find a healthier alternative, since she doesn’t have time to breast feed.
The Christian Science Monitor and CBS News provided information for this story.
