Abbott settles 2022 infant formula recall claims for $385 million
Abbott Laboratories has reached a $385 million settlement to resolve federal and state lawsuits stemming from the 2022 recall of powdered infant formula produced at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant. The agreement concludes ongoing litigation and a parallel criminal investigation by the Department of Justice without requiring the company to admit fault or liability.
The massive settlement follows years of scrutiny regarding the safety of Abbott’s manufacturing processes. Despite the recall, the company maintains that no unopened, distributed Abbott infant formula has ever tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii. Government regulators and the CDC previously confirmed that unopened samples collected from the homes of affected infants tested negative for the bacteria.
Investigations into the 2022 cases highlighted the environmental nature of the pathogen. CDC officials have noted that Cronobacter is frequently found in household settings, including kitchens and feeding equipment like breast pumps. Genetic sequencing performed on samples from the infants failed to establish a definitive link to the Sturgis facility, and the government has officially closed its criminal inquiry into the matter. Abbott continues to emphasize that the settlement is a strategic move to resolve claims and maintain focus on its nutritional product operations.
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