FDA, CDC affirm safety of Mead Johnson's Enfamil; tests for Cronobacter negative

GLENVIEW, Ill. — Mead Johnson's infant formulas, including Enfamil Premium Newborn, are safe, according to results of testing by both the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These tests confirmed that the Mead Johnson products were safe, and no presence of the Cronobacter (Enterobacter sakazakii) bacteria was detected.

Mead Johnson Nutrition reported Saturday that the agencies had given Enfamil a clean bill of safety and that all samples collected from the company — and related to health investigations in Missouri and Illinois — have been found safe. Mead Johnson emphasizes these are the only incidents that led to tests on its products.

According to Mead Johnson, all of its infant formulas undergo approximately 2,300 quality checks and safety tests to ensure that they meet or exceed standards set by the World Health Organization, the FDA and other regulatory bodies before they are made available to consumers.

"We're pleased with the FDA and CDC testing, which should reassure consumers, healthcare professionals and retailers everywhere about the safety and quality of our products," stated Tim Brown, SVP and GM for Mead Johnson North America. "These tests also reinforce the rigor of our quality processes throughout our operations. … We remain committed to our mission to nourish the world's children for the best start in life."

The testing, and concern, came after the death of an infant associated with the bacteria Cronobacter in December. That infant had been fed an Enfamil product, and while no correlation had been made, the Enfamil batches were tested by the agencies as part of the investigation into that infant's death. 

"Our company recently became aware of an infant’s death in Missouri. This infant tested positive for Cronobacter, which is a microorganism commonly found in the environment and sometimes implicated in rare but serious illnesses in newborn babies. We were informed that the infant had been fed one of our products," Mead Johnson stated following those news reports.