Health Ministry to probe death of 4-week-old who consumed recalled baby formula

The Health Ministry is investigating the death of a four-week-old baby who died after apparently drinking recalled baby formula.

The baby was reported to have died from respiratory failure at Assuta Ashdod Hospital last Friday.

However, preliminary investigations revealed that the baby had consumed Nutrilon formula from batches that were recently subject to a nationwide recall.

According to a hospital spokesperson, the infant was rushed to the pediatric emergency department of the hospital in severe respiratory distress.

A senior medical team specializing in pediatric intensive care “fought for his life, following all accepted professional standards and performing prolonged resuscitation efforts,” the hospital says.

His body was transferred to the National Institute of Forensic Medicine (Abu Kabir) to determine the cause of death.

The ministry says the institute and treating physicians currently rule out a clinical link between the formula consumption and the infant’s death, but it has mandated additional testing.

An external committee, composed of experts across relevant medical fields, will examine both the clinical factors of the mortality and the breakdown in communication that delayed the ministry’s notification.

The ministry has pledged “full transparency as the investigation proceeds toward its final conclusions.”