Abbott. Photo: CFP

The hashtag "stop consuming Abbott China's baby related products" has been trending on Sina Weibo, following a statement issued by the General Administration of Customs (GAC) saying that Abbott China is recalling a nutrient supplement produced by the Similac brand under one of Abbott's manufacturing facilities. The brand is under investigation by the US FDA following consumer complaints. 

According to the FDA, Abbott is voluntarily recalling powder formula made by three brands - Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare - all of which are made at the same manufacturing facility under Abbott in Sturgis, Michigan. It comes after four consumer complaints that babies had become sick, and it is feared that the infant formula could contain bacteria including Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella Newport. 

According to the statement issued by the GAC, the listed products are not exported to China through general trade channels, and only the HMFortifi nutrition supplement under the Similac brand has been exported to China. 

Abbott China issued a statement on Monday night through its official Weibo account stating that the company has already started a nationwide voluntary recall of the nutrition supplement produced in Michigan with a shelf life ranging from April 1, 2022 to April 1, 2023, adding that the company's other nutrition products are not affected. 

Consumers who have the Similac HMFortifi nutrition supplement within the listed shelf life period can contact Abbott China for follow-ups, and the company will handle the issue. 

Meanwhile, the company also warned consumers not to consume the products involved from Similac, Alimentum and EleCare with the first two digits of product codes starting from 22 to 37, or products with K8, SH or Z2 on containers and a shelf life from and after April 1, 2022. If consumers have purchased the products through channels like cross-border e-commerce platforms, they should contact the platforms for product exchange or return. 

Both the company and the GAC warned consumers to immediately stop consuming the products involved. The GAC said that it will closely follow the progress of the FDA's investigation and keep consumers informed.

The sales of infant products from Abbott increased 3.1 percent globally in 2021, according to the company's financial report.