Infant formula recall

The Ministry of Health has banned the sale of the popular Similac brand of powdered infant formula after the United States (US) manufacturers announced a voluntary recall.

The recall, which does not include the liquid formula, was announced by Chicago-based manufacturers Abbott Laboratories after it was discovered that they might contain a small beetle or larvae, which could cause stomach ache and digestion problems.

The affected products are sold in plastic containers and various can sizes, including 8-ounce (227-gram), 12.4-ounce (352-gram), and 12.9-ounce (366-gram) cans.

In a statement released Thursday, the health ministry said the ban on products would remain in place until further notice.

Parents and caregivers have been warned not to purchase the product and to stop using whatever supplies they have.

No immediate health risk

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said the beetle-infested formula poses no immediate health risk, but cautioned that infants who consume it could experience gastro-intestinal discomfort.

In addition, the FDA said infants who consume the infected formula could also refuse to eat because their GI tract is irritated by small insect parts.

"If these symptoms persist for more than a few days, a physician should be consulted," the FDA warned.

Jamaicans have been urged to contact the health ministry or local distributors Cari-Med or Lascelles Labs for more details.

In addition, members of the public can visit www.similac.com/recall and type in their product, or batch or lot number to determine if their product is affected.