Justice Department investigating Abbott Laboratories infant formula plant in Michigan

The U.S. Justice Department is reportedly investigating the Abbott Laboratories infant formula plant in Michigan.

>> Read more trending news

Abbott Laboratories confirmed to The Associated Press that the investigation is around the plant closure that lasted for a few months last year following contamination at the plant.

The closure began in February 2022 and was one of the leading causes of a nationwide baby formula shortage, according to the AP. The shortage forced parents to find alternative ways to get formula such as at food banks, from friends, and from doctor’s offices. Other issues included supply chain disruptions and COVID-19 stockpiling.

Abbott recalled baby formula made at the plant, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Production reportedly restarted in June, according to the AP.

Abbott spokesperson Scott Stoffel told the AP that the company is cooperating with the DOJ’s investigation.

Attorneys with the DOJ’s consumer-protection branch were reportedly involved in a settlement last year with Abbott that allowed for the plant to resume operations, according to The Wall Street Journal. This came after the Food and Drug Administration inspectors reportedly found a possibly deadly bacteria at the plant in Sturgis, Michigan. The consumer-protection branch has criminal and civil authority.

Last January, the FDA inspectors reportedly found bacteria that linked to reports of babies who drank the formula from Abbott’s and became sick, according to The Wall Street Journal. Federal officials could not “conclusively link” the bacteria at the plant to the babies’ illnesses and Abbott reportedly said that genetic sequencing of the bacteria in the babies who were sick didn’t match the strains found by inspectors at the plant.

Standing water, damage to the drying equipment, and issues with the seams of the formula cans were also found at the plant, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Abbott is one of four companies that produce about 90% of the formula in the United States, according to the AP. The shortage was even more difficult for babies and children with allergies, digestive issues, and metabolic disorders who use specialty formulas that Abbott produces and in the U.S., they are the only source of those particular formulas.

©2022 Cox Media Group