The Tucson Police Department issued an urgent warning Thursday about contamination of containers of baby formula. At a press conference, TPD Chief Les Magnus said one of the products tampered with was Gerber Good Start Soy formula. Police believe there may be other brands that have also been affected.
Magnus said if anyone bought baby formula, particularly in a store in the east end of the city, they should examine the product carefully. People should look for a broken seal or lack of a seal and if the contents of the container looks or smells funny, they should contact police.
Jennifer LaPlante, 30, was arrested on Thursday. She appeared in court yesterday and faces charges of child endangerment and fraudulent schemes and artifices. According to police, LaPlante confessed to removing the baby formula, replacing it with flour, sugar, cereal and other substances and then re-sealing the container with a “strong smelling adhesive.”
Police learned of the tampering earlier this month when the TPD’s Child Physical Abuse Unit received information about a two-month-old baby. The infant became lethargic after consuming Gerber’s Start Soy formula and was taken to the Tucson Medical Center. It was determined the formula had a strong chemical smell from the adhesive used to re-seal the container. The purchase of the product was traced to a Fry’s store located in Tucson’s east end. Information was received from the store that LaPlante had returned the container and was given a refund.
The baby was released from hospital and is expected to be fine.
Police traced the purchases of contaminated baby formula to two Fry stores and two Walmarts. A spokeswoman for Fry’s said the company is cooperating in the investigation and all the products have been removed from store shelves. Walmart issued a statement saying the company is “deeply disturbed” by these event and are working with police.
The TPD would like anyone who thinks they have a tampered product to bring it to their evidence facility rather than return it to the store.
When LaPlante appeared in court yesterday, bond was set at $50,000. If she is released, she will be subject to conditions not to consume alcohol, not to possess firearms, submit to drug monitoring and not to enter the stores where the tainted baby formula were sold. Additional charges may be laid.
LaPlante is scheduled to return to court on May 22.
