Lawmakers react to recall of bug-laced baby formula

By Kimberly Atkins The Daily Record Newswire The recall of 5 million units of Similac powdered infant formula after the manufacturer discovered the presence of beetles both in the infant formula and in the plant where it was manufactured has spurred a probe by lawmakers. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, who chairs the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, sent a letter to Miles D. White, chairman and CEO of Abbott Laboratories, demanding answers about the contamination and the company's response. ''What internal processes does Abbott use to ensure the safety and quality of its infant formula products?'' Harkin asked in the letter. ''What steps are being taken by Abbott to ensure that similar contamination is prevented in the future?'' Harkin also asked why it took the company a week after discovering the presence of the insect contamination to implement the voluntary recall. The recall affects Similac powder formula in 8-ounce, 12.4-ounce and 12.9-ounce cans. The Food and Drug Administration has indicated that the potentially contaminated formula does not pose an immediate health risk, but that there is a possibility that infants who consume formula containing beetles or their larvae may experience gastrointestinal symptoms. Published: Thu, Oct 14, 2010

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