Walmart Pulls Formula After Death of Infant

Walmart stores across the country have voluntarily removed Enfamil Newborn formula from their shelves.

The store chain began the action in Lebanon, MO, after a 10-day-old baby died Sunday.

The Food and Drug Administration has not issued an official recall of the product, which is formulated for babies up to three months old. 

A report in the Washington Post quotes Walmart spokeswoman Dianna Gee, who said the company decided to pull the lot “out of an abundance of caution” while health officials further investigate Sunday’s death.

A manager of the , which services the North Hills, told Patch that the store was not forced to remove this product from its shelves because the store did not have any in stock when the voluntary recall was issued. Going forward, the manager said, the local store would not stock the product until any possible threat has been ruled out. 

The affected powder formula is carried in 12.5-ounce cans under the brandname "Enfamil Newborn," with the lot number ZP1K7G. Customers can return the affected formula to any Walmart for a refund or exchange.

STLToday.com reports the Missouri Department of Health is advising parents to follow safety guidelines for preparing any infant formula:

• Wash hands with soap and water.
• Sterilize feeding equipment in hot soapy water.
• Prepare formula for one feeding at a time.

The Lebanon Daily Record in Missouri reports that the infant who died, Avery Cornett, was taken to a local hospital when he showed signs of lethargy and stomach discomfort. According to the newspaper, tests showed Cornett had contracted a rare bacteria that can be found in contaminated infant formula.

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Watch: News story about Avery Cornett from KY3-TV, Springfield, MO