A Milwaukee family says their 3-month-old became ill after drinking from a container sold as infant formula that the parents say appeared to contain flour. The baby was treated for constipation and has since recovered. The family submitted a sample to the FDA, which had not confirmed test results as of Oct. 3, and state officials are investigating. The incident highlights FDA guidance to check tamper-evident seals before using infant formula.
Milwaukee Family Says Formula Bottle Contained Flour — 3-Month-Old Treated; State Investigating
Image Credit: Fox 6 News / YouTube.
A Milwaukee family says their 3-month-old infant became ill after drinking from a container sold as infant formula that the parents say appeared to contain flour. The family says the product was bought at a nearby gas station after they ran out of formula and other stores were closed.
By the next morning the baby remained unusually fussy, and the infant's mother, Tene Fowlkes, said she noticed the liquid left in the bottle looked 'sluggish' and 'foggy.' The family took the child to a hospital; Fowlkes said the infant experienced constipation but has since recovered.
'I looked at it, and it was like – sluggish, off – it was foggy,' Fowlkes told FOX6 News.
Sample Sent to FDA, Local Investigation Underway
Fowlkes said the powdery substance inside the container appeared to be flour. The family submitted a sample to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for laboratory testing, and as of Oct. 3 the FDA had not publicly confirmed test results identifying the substance.
The family returned the container to the gas station. The station owner told FOX6 he reported the incident through WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children), and said state officials have opened an investigation.
Tampering Unclear
Exactly how the substance ended up inside the container remains unclear. It is not known whether the product had been opened or altered before purchase; Fowlkes acknowledged the family could not verify whether the factory seal was intact when they bought it.
Safety Advice From the FDA
The FDA recommends that parents and caregivers inspect infant formula packaging before use and be alert for signs that a product may have been damaged or altered. The agency advises checking tamper-evident features and avoiding products with seals or containers that appear open, torn or otherwise compromised.
Fowlkes said the incident has changed how she buys formula when a hungry baby is waiting. 'It only takes a couple seconds to make sure the seal is on there,' she told FOX6. 'And if not, take it back even if the baby is upset.'
What We Know: The infant was taken to a hospital and treated for constipation and is now okay; the family sent a sample to the FDA and local authorities are investigating. Officials have not yet confirmed the substance found in the container.
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