Product sold nationwide as thickener to mix with formula, breast milk

May 21, 2011 (Washington D.C.) -- The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is warning parents and caregivers to not feed SimplyThick to premature infants younger than 37 weeks. The product, a thickening agent for swallowing disorders, has been found to cause necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening condition characterized by inflammation and death of intestinal tissue. At least two infants have died as a result, the FDA reports.

Parents, caregivers and health care providers should immediately stop administering the product to premature infants.