The loss of a child is every parent’s worst nightmare, and for Cheyenne Ping and Christian Dellaquila, that nightmare became a heartbreaking reality. Their 13-day-old daughter, Willow Jade Dellaquila, died last year after consuming tainted baby formula that was contaminated with a dangerous bacteria known as cronobacter sakazakii. This tragic story is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the alarming issues plaguing the baby formula industry.
The parents of a newborn who was only 13 days old when she died after officials said she drank tainted formula last year can move ahead with a lawsuit against mega-manufacturer Abbott Nutrition. AP
In November 2023, Willow Jade Dellaquila passed away after consuming a can of Similac Total Comfort powdered formula that was contaminated with the deadly cronobacter sakazakii bacteria. This bacteria can cause a stroke, brain damage, and even death in infants. Willow’s story is not an isolated incident, as there have been several other cases of infants falling ill or even dying after consuming tainted formula.
The Dellaquila family’s lawsuit is just one of several legal actions being taken against the mega-manufacturer Abbott Nutrition. In 2022, Abbott was forced to shut down its Sturgis, Michigan plant due to widespread contamination issues, leading to a nationwide formula shortage that left parents scrambling. The formula used by Willow’s family was produced at this very plant, more than a year after the FDA had placed it under court-mandated oversight.
Despite Abbott’s claims that there is no proven link between their products and the infections, the evidence tells a different story. Positive tests for cronobacter sakazakii were found in open cans of formula in Willow’s home, and the same strain of bacteria was confirmed to be the cause of her tragic death. The fact that the same strain was not detected in sealed cans or at the Abbott factories does not mean the products were contamination-free, as experts have pointed out.
Kentucky newborn Willow Jade Dellaquila died on Nov. 5, 2023, after she was infected with a dangerous germ that caused a stroke on the right side of her brain, her mother said this week. AP
The Dellaquila family’s case is just one example of the devastating impact that the baby formula crisis is having on families across the country. The lawsuits filed by the other families, whose children suffered brain damage from the same bacteria, underscore the urgent need for stricter regulations and better oversight in the formula industry. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the health and safety of our most vulnerable population – our infants – hang in the balance.
Cheyenne Ping and Christian Dellaquila’s fight for justice is not just about holding Abbott Nutrition accountable for their daughter’s death. It’s about ensuring that no other family has to endure the same heartbreaking tragedy. Their lawsuit, along with the other cases, is a crucial step in exposing the dark underbelly of the formula industry and pushing for much-needed reforms to protect our children.
Cheyenne Ping and little Willow’s father, Christian Dellaquila, 26, were allowed to move forward with a lawsuit against Abbott, an Illinois judge determined on Wednesday. AP
The loss of Willow Jade Dellaquila is a tragedy that no parent should ever have to experience. Her story, and the stories of the other infants affected by the cronobacter sakazakii outbreak, serve as a sobering reminder of the urgent need for change in the baby formula industry. As the Dellaquila family and others seek justice, we must all stand up and demand that our children’s safety be the top priority. Only then can we ensure that no other family has to endure the heartbreak of losing a child to tainted formula.
