Parents give their newborns baby food with the expectation that they are feeding their children nutritious and beneficial supplements. Last week Wal-Mart and other retailers pulled Enfamil baby formula from their shelves after federal investigators started their investigation into whether a defective product is the cause of a deadly bacterial infection that killed one infant and made another sick.

Although the investigation is still ongoing, the news of the deaths is startling parents, and some retailers are not taking the risk that a potential deadly product is on their shelves. The parents of the baby who died from the bacteria could potentially file a wrongful death lawsuit if the formula is in fact linked to the death, and the parents of the ill baby could be entitled to compensation for their damages.

We put trust in the manufacturers of all the products we use, from the makers of safety devices in our vehicles to the people preparing the food we consume every day. If manufacturers are not careful or if they are negligent in the manufacturing of their products they could be held liable for damages that their products do to consumers. Since people cannot research the manufacturing of every product they buy, it is up to manufacturers to make sure their products comply with rigorous safety standards.

Usually this type of infection is only reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention four to six times per year, but there have been three cases reported just in the last month alone. If you are ever injured do to a suspected defective product, it might be wise to consult with a personal injury attorney to make sure a proper investigation is conducted and you receive the compensation you are entitled to.

Source: Reuters, "Mead Johnson confirms FDA visits in Enfamil probe," Martinne Geller, Dec. 28, 2011