‘Brave whistleblower’ sparks investigation of baby formula safety
A U.S. Congresswoman is calling for an investigation into one of the country’s largest makers of baby formula after a whistleblower raised serious claims about the product’s safety.
The uproar over baby formula illustrates the impact whistleblowers can have exposing allegedly unsafe products, says Scott Williams, CEO of Ethic Alliance.
“Speaking out about potentially dangerous products that could negatively impact thousands of lives is a critical civic duty that whistleblowers perform,” says Williams. “Their courage and integrity protects families, their community and their country.”
Ethic Alliance is a for-profit corporation and law firm whose purpose is to empower, educate and protect whistleblowers, ensuring they receive the protection they need and the rewards they are entitled to under US law (the US government will typically reward whistleblowers 10%-30% of the amount recovered or sanctioned under various whistleblower laws). Ethic Alliance protects whistleblowers through a secure, encrypted reporting and messaging platform, attaching the strong legal protection of attorney-client privilege from the moment a report is filed with us, and access to a network of specialty attorneys that have made careers protecting and supporting whistleblowers, and working with the US government to win whistleblower lawsuits.
The recent uproar over baby formula is getting widespread media attention. It began in February when Abbott Laboratories voluntarily recalled powder formulas, including Similac, Alimentum and EleCare manufactured at a plant in Sturgis, Mich., after four consumer complaints related to Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella Newport in infants who had consumed powder infant formula manufactured in this facility. The recall was expanded in March. Illinois-based Abbott (NYSE: ABT) makes and sells a diverse line of healthcare products. It posted 2021 revenues of $43 billion.
In March, Connecticut Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro called for an investigation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s handling of the recall.
Then on April 28, DeLauro made public a 34-page report acquired from a whistleblower who worked at the Abbott Laboratories facility which produced the infant formula recalled by Abbott.
“Abbott Nutrition is the exclusive supplier for the majority of state WIC agencies, and this has a serious impact on families served by WIC – over 1.2 million infants served by WIC are limited to specific brands of ‘contract formula,’ like Similac,” DeLauro said in a Congressional hearing.
DeLauro said contaminated formula “led to at least 4 hospitalizations and the deaths of at least 2 babies.”
The whistleblower’s report “lays out a damning list of allegations of wrongdoing at this factory,” DeLauro said.
“I want to say thank you to this brave whistleblower for coming forward with this critical information,” DeLauro added.
For its part, Abbott says it conducts routine testing for Cronobacter sakazakii and other pathogens in its manufacturing facilities. “During testing in our Sturgis, Michigan, facility, we found evidence of Cronobacter sakazakii in the plant in non-product contact areas. We found no evidence of Salmonella Newport. This investigation is ongoing. Importantly, no distributed product has tested positive for the presence of either of these bacteria, and we continue to test.”
The company said April 15 that, “We continue to make progress on corrective actions and will be implementing additional actions as we work toward addressing items related to the recent recall.”
In an April 28 statement, Abbott said that, “With regard to the document released by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) this former employee was dismissed due to serious violations of Abbott’s food safety policies. After dismissal, the former employee, through their attorney, has made evolving, new and escalating allegations to multiple authorities. Abbott is reviewing this new document and will thoroughly investigate any new allegations.”
Contact Ethic Alliance at info@ethicalliance.com
Related links: https://delauro.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/icymi-delauro-shares-whistleblower-report-contaminated-infant-formula ; https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/abbott-update-on-powder-formula-recall.html ; https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/abbott-statement-on-complaint-by-former-employee.html
Photo by Lucy Wolski on Unsplash