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Wal-Mart Pulls Enfamil Formula After Infant Death

South Carolina Defective Product Attorneys

Wal-Mart has pulled a powdered infant formula from more than 3,000 of its stores nationwide after a 10-day-old Missouri boy who was fed the formula died from what preliminary tests indicate was a rare bacterial infection, the retailer said.

Newborn Avery Cornett died Sunday of an uncommon infection that is sometimes linked to bacteria found in the commercial formula, reports said.

He was taken to the hospital on Friday after his family said he appeared lethargic and seemed to have a stomach ache. He died Sunday after being taken off life support. Preliminary tests showed that he had contracted the bacteria Cronobacter sakazii.

The government has not ordered a recall of the 12.5-ounce cans of Enfamil Newborn powder with the lot number ZP1K7G. Manufacturer Mead Johnson Nutrition said its records showed the formula tested negative for the bacteria before it was shipped.

Wal-Mart officials have pulled the product voluntarily out of precaution for other newborns until the death has been fully investigated. Customers who bought the cans have the option of returning them for a full refund.

Gena Terlizzi, spokeswoman for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, said Wednesday that samples of the formula given to Avery were sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for testing.

Public health investigators looking for the source of Avery’s infection will also look at environmental factors, such as the type of water used in preparing the powdered formula, and at anything else the baby might have accidentally ingested.