Abbott recalls about 5 million Similac containers

Abbott has voluntarily recalled about 5 million containers of certain Similac-brand powdered infant formulas after a quality-assurance inspection at its Michigan manufacturing plant found insect pieces and larvae, according to Contemporary Pediatrics. The publication reported that Abbott notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, suspended production and issued the recall after contamination was identified at the facility. Abbott’s Michigan plant in Sturgis has been at the center of infant-formula safety scrutiny before, including a separate 2022 recall tied to bacterial concerns. ### Which products are part of this recall? Contemporary Pediatrics reported that the recall covers certain Similac powdered infant formulas produced at Abbott’s Michigan facility. The article did not list lot numbers or individual product names in the excerpt available through search results, but it said the scope was about 5 million containers. FDA’s recalls page says not every recall appears immediately with a full public release, and some notices are based on company statements or other public notices. (contemporarypediatrics.com) The agency also says recalls remain on its main alerts page for three years before being archived. ### What contamination did inspectors find? The contamination cited in the report was insect pieces and larvae found during a quality-assurance inspection at the Michigan plant, Contemporary Pediatrics said. (contemporarypediatrics.com) The publication said Abbott then notified FDA, halted production and moved to recall the affected powdered formula. FDA’s food-safety pages say infant formula is a tightly regulated product because infants are a vulnerable population and manufacturers must meet safety and nutritional requirements. (fda.gov) The agency has separately urged stronger recall practices for foods intended for infants and young children. ### Where did this happen? Sturgis, Michigan, is the Abbott facility named in both the Contemporary Pediatrics report and earlier FDA and Abbott materials related to infant-formula manufacturing. (contemporarypediatrics.com) Abbott’s past public statements have identified Sturgis as one of the company’s formula plants, and FDA has repeatedly referenced the site in its infant-formula response materials. Abbott said in an April 9, 2025 update that FDA had concluded a 19-day inspection of the Sturgis plant on April 4, 2025 without issuing a Form 483 observation in that inspection. (fda.gov) That statement addressed a different episode, but it confirms the company’s identification of the Sturgis site and the continued regulatory focus on the plant. ### Has FDA posted the recall yet? (contemporarypediatrics.com) FDA’s public recalls database did not show an Abbott infant-formula entry in the top listings visible on June 4, 2026. The agency says on its recalls page that not all recalls have press releases or are posted there immediately. FDA’s enforcement reports page says recalls can appear there once the agency classifies them, and the dashboard says the data is updated weekly and includes recalls that have been classified. (abbott.com) That means a voluntary company recall can be public before a classification appears in the FDA enforcement system. ### What should parents and caregivers watch for next? The next concrete step is an FDA posting or enforcement-report entry with product-level details such as lot identifiers, classification and distribution information. (fda.gov) FDA says consumers can track recalls through its Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts page and its Enforcement Reports system. Abbott and FDA have both maintained public infant-formula information pages in past recall episodes, and any broader product guidance would typically appear there as the case develops. (fda.gov) As of June 4, 2026, the verified public detail available from the report is that Abbott recalled about 5 million containers of certain Similac powdered formulas after contamination by insect pieces and larvae was found at its Michigan plant. (contemporarypediatrics.com) (fda.gov)