What was supposed to be a quick formula run turned into a nightmare for a Frederick County mother, who says the can of infant formula she bought was filled with flour instead of powdered milk. Her 11-month-old son drank a bottle made from the can before she and the child’s father realized something was wrong, and she says the baby then suffered flushed cheeks and diarrhea for two to three days. The mother reports that she has alerted state and federal food authorities and sounded the alarm to other parents online.
What the mother says happened
Alivia Council told WMAR-2 News that she bought the can at the Walmart in Nottingham at 8118 Perry Hills Ct. She said nothing seemed off until her boyfriend opened the can to make a bottle for their son, Thomas. According to the Council, he noticed the tin was partly empty, and when he mixed the powder with water, it “turned into dough.”
Council says she then posted warnings on TikTok, returned to the store to ask about reviewing surveillance footage, and filed reports with federal and state food regulators. She adds that she kept the receipt and a sample of the substance as evidence.
Walmart's response
In a statement, Walmart said, “The safety of our customers and their families is a top priority. That’s why Walmart has a strict policy to not resell infant formula that has been returned or exchanged. In this case, we worked with the customer to offer an exchange, coordinated with the local health department and reported the issue to the manufacturer,” as reported by WMAR-2 News. The company did not say whether store surveillance supported the claim or whether any criminal complaint had been filed.
Why raw flour can be risky
Public health officials point out that flour is a raw agricultural product that is not treated to kill germs. It can carry pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella that are destroyed only by cooking. Federal investigations have tied raw flour and unbaked dough to multistate outbreaks, and health guidance warns against tasting or feeding raw dough products to children. For more background on flour-linked outbreaks and safety recommendations, see the CDC.
How to report and what parents should check
The FDA encourages consumers to report problems with infant formula through its Consumer Complaint system or MedWatch program, noting that even a small number of complaints can trigger inspections or other action. Parents are urged to make sure cans are intact, seals are unbroken, and products are within their use-by dates, to keep receipts and samples when possible, and to contact a pediatrician if a child develops symptoms after consuming a product. Details on reporting pathways are available from the FDA.
Legal angle
Tampering with consumer products can be prosecuted as a serious crime when interstate commerce is involved. The Department of Justice notes that federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 1365, criminalizes product tampering and allows for substantial penalties when public safety is put at risk. Whether local, state, or federal charges are brought in any case depends on what investigators find about intent, the public health risk, and how the product moved through the supply chain, according to prosecutorial guidelines the DOJ provides on its site.
Council says she is speaking out to warn other families while regulators review her report. Health officials and food regulators say the broader takeaway for parents is straightforward: inspect packaging and seals before leaving the store, hold onto purchase records, and report any suspicious or potentially contaminated products to the FDA and your local health department.
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