ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to exposing abuses of power, shared insights regarding a significant health and safety issue at a major baby formula production facility in the United States.
Reporting Highlights:
- Unsanitary Conditions: Allegations have emerged from workers at an Abbott Laboratories plant, one of the largest baby formula producers in the U.S., involving unsanitary practices.
- Cardboard Funnel Incident: An employee reportedly used cardboard taken from a trash bin to funnel coconut oil, an ingredient in baby formula, into a tank.
- Federal Response: A complaint was filed with the FDA by a worker, though the response from the agency remains uncertain due to recent job cuts under the Trump administration.
Current and former employees from the Sturgis, Michigan facility reported to ProPublica about observed shortcuts in cleaning and microbial testing within the plant. They described persistent leaks and missed pathogen tests during maintenance, with supervisors allegedly pressuring workers to increase production and retaliating against those who raised concerns.
One worker reported to the FDA in February about continuous leaks and contamination issues at the plant, highlighted by pooling water and chemicals, and a solidified mass of sweetener oozing from a pipe. These revelations surface amidst government workforce reductions and restructuring, including significant layoffs at the FDA and placements of industry-aligned individuals in key roles.
Several employees cited fear of company retaliation as a reason for not identifying themselves publicly, expressing worry about the potential health impacts on infants consuming the formula. Nonetheless, they spoke up due to concerns for consumer safety.
Abbott Laboratories countered the workers’ claims, describing them as misleading and asserting confidence in the quality and safety of products from the Sturgis facility. The company stated that substantial investments had been made in staffing and facility upgrades, and highlighted that thousands of environmental swabs are conducted monthly.
Abbott acknowledged a deviation from standard practices in May when cardboard was used in the manufacturing process but emphasized that the formula underwent enhanced testing with negative results for contaminants. Regulations mandate the use of clean, verified instruments for ingredient transfer, which was not adhered to in this incident.
Questions about ingredient expiration surfaced when staff refused to use amino acid powders past their ‘best by’ date despite Abbott’s explanation of regulatory allowances for extended use verified by third-party testing. Abbott reported destroying containers deemed unsuitable.
The FDA spokesperson mentioned that they take such reports seriously and are committed to ensuring safe infant formula production. The Trump administration’s operational adjustments and its implications on handling the compliance issues at the facility remain to be fully understood.
Previous concerns about the plant from 2021, including bacterial contamination and unsanitary conditions, led to recalls and a plant shutdown, amplifying the formula shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic. The shutdown prompted legislative and judicial scrutiny, highlighting significant industrial and regulatory challenges.
Despite Abbott’s insistence on prioritizing quality, recent pressures on the production team have reportedly intensified. Employees reiterated concerns about procedural adherence, leaks, and equipment sanitation, with photographic evidence underscoring these issues.
Finally, aside from internal audits and external contract evaluations, the plant’s operations and adjustments post the 2022 consent decree remain closely watched, as the regulatory environment and public health implications continue to evolve surrounding infant formula production.
