Abbott recalls some liquid baby formula over bottle defect

(Reuters) – Abbott Laboratories said on Friday it was recalling some ready-to-feed baby formula liquid products including Similac-branded items due to inadequate sealing of some bottle caps.

The recall, which equates to less than one day’s worth of infant formula used in the United States, is not expected to impact the overall formula supply, Abbott said in a statement.

Abbott has been at the center of a baby formula shortage in the United States that earlier this year sent parent scrambling for supplies.

The recall of baby formula made at Abbott’s Michigan plant following complaints of bacterial infection in February exacerbated its shortage in the United States.

To boost supplies, the U.S. government temporarily allowed foreign imports from companies such as Reckitt Benckiser and Nestle.

Supplies have been improving in recent months, according to large retailers such as Walmart, but the government has continued to allow imports to stock up shelves.

Shares in Abbott, which is recalling products made at the company’s plant in Columbus, Ohio, were down 1.1% at $101.39 in afternoon trading.

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Bengaluru; Editing by Vinay Dwivedi)