FDA CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATION – FDA Warns Not to Feed SimplyThick to Premature Infants

SILVER SPRING, Md., May 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Feeding SimplyThick to infants born before 37 weeks may cause a life-threatening condition called necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC).

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FDA is aware of 15 cases of NEC, including two deaths, involving premature infants who were fed SimplyThick mixed with mothers’ breast milk or infant formula products to help manage swallowing difficulties.

Find out more about NEC and FDA’s advice to parents, caregivers, and health care professionals in the Consumer Update at

http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm256250.htm

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Media Contact: Stephanie Yao, 301-796- 0394, Stephanie.Yao@fda.hhs.gov

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration