TThe Justice Department has reportedly opened an investigation into Abbott Laboratories and its infant formula plant located in Sturgis, Michigan, after the company temporarily shut down production last year, causing widespread formula shortages.
The DOJ’s consumer protection branch is conducting a criminal investigation into the formula shortage that was caused by the facility’s month-long shutdown, sources told the Wall Street Journal.
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“The DOJ has informed us of its investigation and we are cooperating fully,” an Abbott spokesman told the outlet.
The investigation comes nearly a year after Abbott Labs shut down production at its Sturgis formula plant in February 2022 due to a recall of several of its products by the Food and Drug Administration. The federal agency issued the recall after reports of at least two infants dying from possible bacterial contamination from the facility’s formula products.
The Sturgis plant temporarily halted operations for a month, causing a severe shortage of infant formula across the country.
The FDA later opened an investigation into the facility in June following reports of nine babies dying after consuming the facility’s formula. However, the agency was unable to identify a link between the facility and the source of the bacterial contamination.
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The Sturgis plant was then allowed to resume production to ease the formula shortage. Under that agreement, the facility must work with third-party experts to maintain the Sturgis plant in proper condition.
It is unclear whether the DOJ investigation will result in criminal charges. However, the department’s previous investigations into companies like Blue Bell Creameries and Chipotle Mexican Grill in 2020 resulted in charges over similar contamination outbreaks.
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