Tainted Baby-Formula Risk Was Seen Months Before Abbott’s Recall

Federal inspectors spotted the potential for baby formula made at an Abbott Laboratories plant to become contaminated months before a recall that exacerbated a nationwide shortage, a government document shows.

The Food and Drug Administration report adds a new twist to the widening gap between supply and demand for formula since Abbott recalled Similac and other top-selling brands in February, alarming parents and stoking lawmakers’ concerns. Federal officials have investigated the cases of four babies who fell ill -- including two who died -- from cronobacter after ingesting formula made at Abbott’s Sturgis plant.

US officials are putting increasing focus ...