Abbott Laboratories reported strong earnings Wednesday, despite spending recent months responding to criticism over problems that led to the shutdown of one of its infant formula-producing plants.over problems that led to the shutdown of one of its infant formula-producing plants.
That facility closure is widely blamed for exacerbating a nationwide shortage of infant formulas that left many store shelves bare andAbbott closed the facility earlier this year and recalled formulas produced there, as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it was investigating complaints of Cronobacter sakazakii infections among babies who reportedly consumed formula from the plant.
Abbott leaders have apologized for the company’s role in the national shortage. Abbott, however, has said that the Cronobacter that was found in environmental testing during the investigation was in “non-product contact areas of the facility and has not been linked to any known infant illness.”