Supervalu joins Wal-Mart in pulling batch of Mead Johnson Nutrition's Enfamil baby formula off its shelves following death of Missouri newborn; no federal recall has been issued, but officials are investigating

Cindy Allen

LOS ANGELES , December 23, 2011 (Industry Intelligence) – Supervalu Inc. has joined Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in pulling some containers of Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.'s Enfamil baby formula off its shelves following the death of a Missouri newborn from a rare bacterial infection, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 23. A second baby fell ill but survived.

U.S. regulators are conducting tests to determine whether the Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria that infected the babies came from the Enfamil Newborn batch.

The government and Mead have not recalled the product. Enfamil accounted for 40% of U.S. infant formula sales in 2008, the newspaper reported, citing U.S. Dept. of Agriculture figures.

Mead Johnson officials say their tests on the batch before it was shipped showed no presence of the bactera.

Wal-Mart pulled the product from its shelves in Lebanon, Missouri, where the product fed to the infant was purchased, after being notified by Missouri health department officials Sunday night. On Monday, Wal-Mart removed the product from its 3,000-plus U.S. stores.

Supervalu spokesman Mike Siemienas said, "Out of an abundance of caution, we are pulling the products with the lot number that has been identified off our shelves and will hold them until we receive additional guidance from regulatory bodies and the manufacturer."

Supervalu said it was taking the product off several hundred of its stores. Supervalu has 1,100 supermarkets and 1,200 discount stores.

The primary source of this article is The Wall Street Journal, New York, New York, on Dec. 23, 2011.

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