Update: Some recalled Gerber Good Start formulas were shipped out after the recall

In March, some Gerber Good Start SoothePro powdered infant formula lots were voluntarily recalled due to the potential presence of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria. But now, it’s been discovered that certain lots of the recalled formula were distributed to stores even after the initial recall notice, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states. 

Perrigo Company, Gerber’s parent company, noted that the original recall had been ordered “out of an abundance of caution” since the bacteria was linked to the company’s Eau Claire, Wis. facility, though the bacteria had not been found in distributed formula, nor have any illnesses been reported. 

After the initial recall notice on March 17, a wholesaler shipped the 12.4-ounce version of the recalled infant formula to supermarket stores in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, according to Perrigo Company. Families in those states who may have purchased the formula are being urged to check the containers they have at home to see if they were affected by the recall.

Though Cronobacter sakazakii is commonly found in the environment, bacterial infection is rare, but it can cause severe illness in premature infants, babies under 2 months of age or those with weakened immune systems. In severe cases, infection can lead to bowel damage or may spread through the blood to cause meningitis or sepsis, which can be life-threatening.

Was my baby’s formula impacted by the Gerber Good Start recall?

If you purchased cans of Gerber Good Start SoothePro powdered infant formula after March 5, 2023, or recently from a store in one of the states listed above, check the bottom of the can for the lot codes and use-by dates listed below. No other lot codes or products, such as baby food, are impacted by this recall. 

If you purchased a product with a matching code, stop using it and dispose of the product. You can reach out to Gerber for a refund by calling 1-800-777-7690. 

For the full list, you can view the press release here.

Do not use Gerber® Good Start® SoothePro™™ 12.4 oz if the following lot codes are found on the container:

300357651Z – USE BY 04JUL2024

300457651Z – USE BY 05JUL2024

300557651Z – USE BY 06JUL2024

300557652Z – USE BY 06JUL2024

300757651Z – USE BY 08JUL2024

300857651Z – USE BY 09JUL2024

301057651Z – USE BY 11JUL2024

301057652Z – USE BY 11JUL2024

301157651Z – USE BY 12JUL2024

Do not use Gerber® Good Start® SoothePro™™ 30.6 oz if the following lot codes are present:

301357652Z – USE BY 14JUL2024

301457652Z – USE BY 15JUL2024

301557651Z – USE BY 16JUL2024

Do not use Gerber Good Start® SoothePro™™ 19.4 oz if the following lot codes are present:

301557652Z – USE BY 16JUL2024I

Related: The formula shortage is just the latest crisis society has heaped on mothers

If you’re worried that your infant may have consumed some of the recalled product, reach out to your pediatrician for more information on the signs of potential Cronobacter infection, which may include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice, grunting breaths and abnormal movements, The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) reports. 

Cronobacter was also a major factor behind the 2022 infant formula shortage, during which an Abbott Nutrition plant in Sturgis, Mich. was shut down after Cronobacter infections were reported in several infants who had consumed the formulas made there. The subsequent recall and facility closure, combined with pandemic supply chain issues, resulted in a nationwide formula shortage which left families everywhere struggling to find formula to feed their babies. Given the smaller scale of the Gerber Good Start infant formula recall, it’s not expected to result in a shortage.

A version of this story was originally published on March 20, 2023. It has been updated.