Key Highlights:
- Tragic Loss: Kentucky parents file a lawsuit against Abbott Nutrition after their newborn dies from a bacteria-tainted formula.
- Cronobacter Infection: The baby, Willow Jade Dellaquila, was infected with the deadly Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria traced to Similac formula.
- Nationwide Crisis: The lawsuit comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Abbott’s practices following a major formula contamination crisis in 2022.
Kentucky Parents Hold Abbott Nutrition Accountable After Baby’s Death
The heartbreaking loss of a newborn in Kentucky has led to a legal battle against Abbott Nutrition, the manufacturer at the center of a 2022 infant formula crisis that shook the nation. The parents of Willow Jade Dellaquila, who tragically died at just 13 days old, have filed a lawsuit alleging that contaminated formula produced by Abbott led to their daughter’s death.
Deadly Bacteria Linked to Abbott’s Formula
Willow Jade Dellaquila was born in Carrollton, Kentucky, and was only 13 days old when she passed away on November 5, 2023. The cause of death was traced to an infection with Cronobacter sakazakii, a dangerous bacterium that was found in a can of Similac Total Comfort powdered formula used to feed her.
Her mother, 25-year-old Cheyenne Ping, recalls the devastating moment when doctors informed her that her baby had suffered a stroke on the right side of her brain. “It’s really heartbreaking. No one should have to go through this,” Ping said, reflecting on the painful loss.
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Legal Action Against Abbott Nutrition
The Kentucky family’s lawsuit, which was recently allowed to move forward by an Illinois judge, is part of a broader legal struggle against Abbott Nutrition. They previously sought to join two other families whose children suffered severe brain damage after consuming Abbott’s Similac Neosure formula. While those cases will proceed separately, the Dellaquila family remains determined to seek justice for their daughter.
Abbott’s Troubled History and FDA Oversight
Abbott Nutrition has been under intense scrutiny since 2022 when its Sturgis, Michigan, plant was temporarily closed following reports of infant illnesses and deaths linked to its formula products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found “shocking” conditions at the plant, including the presence of Cronobacter bacteria, leading to massive recalls and a nationwide formula shortage.
Despite being under court-mandated oversight by the FDA, Abbott continued to produce formula that allegedly contained harmful bacteria. Willow’s formula was purchased more than a year after Abbott was placed under this oversight, raising serious questions about the effectiveness of the measures put in place to protect consumers.
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Nationwide Impact and Regulatory Failures
The crisis has underscored the difficulty of regulating and detecting bacteria like Cronobacter, which can be found in both home kitchens and large factories. The bacteria’s ubiquity and the challenges in detecting it have made it difficult to prevent contamination, leading to dangerous outbreaks that have affected infants nationwide.
Documents obtained by The Associated Press reveal that an FDA inspection in April 2023 at Abbott’s Arizona plant found multiple lapses in contamination-prevention protocols, including the detection of Cronobacter bacteria. Despite this, Abbott maintains that there is no proven link between its products and any infections, including the cases outlined in the lawsuits.
Seeking Justice and Raising Awareness
For Willow’s parents, the lawsuit is not just about seeking justice for their daughter but also about raising awareness about the potential dangers of powdered infant formula. Cheyenne Ping, who received the formula through her state’s WIC program, said she was unaware that powdered formula could harbor deadly bacteria.
“Parents need to know that powdered formula is not sterile,” Ping emphasized. “It just needs to be out there. It needs to be known.”
As the legal battles against Abbott Nutrition continue, the Dellaquila family hopes that their story will help prevent future tragedies and bring about necessary changes in the regulation and safety of infant formula products.
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