The National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) banned, this Friday (12/1), the sale of six batches of powdered infant formula from Nutramigen LGG, a brand sold widely in Brazil.
The ban was made after a statement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a regulatory agency in the United States, which suggested the recall of batches due to possible contamination by the opportunistic bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii.
According to Anvisa’s note, published in the Official Gazette of the Union, the ban is a preventive measure, since the export of any of these batches, manufactured by the company Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition, to Brazil was not identified.
However, FDA data identified contaminated batches imported into Argentina, Belgium, Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Ireland, Israel, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Poland, Spain, United Kingdom and Venezuela.
Anvisa prohibited lots
Despite the concern, no contamination related to the consumption of these batches has yet been identified. The FDA is asking for help in recalling the six batches of the product. Are they:
- ZL3FHG;
- ZL3FMH;
- ZL3FPE;
- ZL3FQD;
- ZL3FRW;
- ZL3FX.
Anvisa recommends paying attention to the label to recognize one of these batches. “If the product belongs to one of the recalled lots, the product must not be used or offered for consumption by babies”, highlights the note.
What is it Cronobacter sakazakii
Cronobacter sakasakii is a bacterium belonging to the genus Cronobacter spp. and can cause infections in humans, especially in newborns, low birth weight neonates (<2500g), immunocompromised and premature babies who require special care in the neonatal Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
“This group of bacteria can also affect individuals of other age groups, however, cases involving adults and children over 12 months of age are rare. The most common clinical form of infection by Cronobacter spp. is meningitis, and other complications such as necrotizing enterocolitis, bacteremia, septicemia and irreversible sequelae may occur. The mortality rate is high in risk groups”, warns Anvisa.