The parents of a Kentucky infant who tragically passed away after consuming bacteria-contaminated infant formula have filed a lawsuit against Abbott Nutrition, the company at the center of a crisis in 2022 that impacted many American families. Willow Jade Dellaquila from Carrollton, Kentucky, died at just 13 days old in November 2023 after being infected with cronobacter sakazakii, a dangerous germ linked to Similac Total Comfort powdered formula.
Willow’s mother, Cheyenne Ping, shared that her baby had a stroke on her brain’s right side, expressing the heartbreak of the situation and emphasizing that no one should have to endure such a loss. Ping and the baby’s father, Christian Dellaquila, have been given the approval to proceed with the lawsuit against Abbott, as ruled by an Illinois judge. The lawsuit is separate from two other families’ cases involving brain damage caused by cronobacter related to a different type of Abbott powdered formula, Similac Neosure.
The original lawsuit against Abbott was filed following reports of infant illnesses and deaths connected to the company’s Sturgis, Michigan plant. The baby consumed formula from this plant, even though Abbott had been under FDA oversight for over a year. Abbott officials deny a proven link between their products and the infections mentioned in the lawsuit, stating that their formula is not sterile and should not be given to premature infants or those with immune issues without proper medical supervision.
The difficulty in tracking bacteria like cronobacter, which are common but challenging to detect and trace, poses significant challenges for regulators and health authorities. Instances of contamination were found in open cans of formula in the homes of affected infants, leading to infections, but the source of contamination remains unclear. Cronobacter infections can be severe, especially in newborns and premature babies, as their immune systems are not fully developed to combat the bacteria effectively.
Following the 2022 crisis, the FDA has made changes to its oversight of infant formula, aiming to respond more effectively to contamination reports and enhance consumer safety. While these changes are crucial for the future, families like Willow’s stress the importance of raising awareness about the potential dangers of powdered formula to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
