May 12, 2017

Contaminated Baby Formula Found in Tucson, Police Say

East-side stores were victims of product tampering, according to officials.

Baby bottle

Health and law enforcement officials are warning of contaminated powdered baby formula recently found in Tucson stores

Tucson Police arrested a 30-year-old woman. They said she allegedly bought formula from stores, switched the containers' contents and returned them to the stores for a refund.

Police believe a recent hospitalization of a child was linked to the tampered formula containers. The child has since been released from the hospital.

Officials warn that parents should check recently purchased formula to ensure tamper-proof packaging is still intact, and those who have already opened a recently purchased container and fed a child from it should keep a close eye on their children.

“If your kid is behaving normally, if your kid is feeding normally, it’s unlikely to be a big deal, but it is still something that you will need to let your pediatric care provider know about if you suspect anything,” said Pima County Health Department Director Francisco Garcia.

Tucson Police listed the following locations in connection with the incident:

-Fry’s, 7050 E. 22nd St. -Fry’s, 9401 E. 22nd St. -Walmart, 8640 E. Broadway Blvd. -Walmart, 7150 E. Speedway Blvd.

There may be other locations.

Garcia said his office is working to determine what substance was put in the formula containers. A Tucson police report identified it as flour.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona