A Milwaukee family says their 3-month-old baby became sick after drinking from a container purchased as infant formula that appeared to contain flour instead.
Tene Fowlkes said her partner bought the formula from a nearby gas station after the family ran out and other stores were closed.
By the following morning, the baby was still fussy, and Fowlkes noticed something was wrong with what remained in the bottle.
“I looked at it, and it was like – sluggish, off – it was foggy,” she told FOX6 News.
The family took the infant to a hospital over concerns about what the baby had consumed. Fowlkes said the child suffered constipation but is now okay.
Inside the Can
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Fowlkes said the substance inside the container was flour.
The FDA has not confirmed that identification. The family said it sent a sample of the powder to the agency for testing and is waiting for the results.
The family returned the container to the gas station, where the owner told FOX6 that he reported the incident through WIC, the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.
He said the state is investigating.
Exactly how the substance got into the container remains unclear, including whether it had been opened or altered before the family bought it.
Fowlkes acknowledged that the family did not know whether the container had been properly sealed when it was purchased.
Check the Seal
The FDA advises parents and caregivers to inspect infant formula packaging before use and watch for signs that a product may have been damaged or altered.
The agency also advises consumers to check tamper-resistant packaging and avoid products with seals or containers that appear open, torn or damaged.
Fowlkes said the experience changed how she approaches formula purchases, even when a hungry baby makes the situation urgent.
“It only takes a couple seconds to make sure the seal is on there,” she told FOX6. “And if not, take it back even if the baby is upset.”
As of Oct. 3, the FDA had not publicly released test results identifying the substance found inside the container.