Abbott Labs Has Violated its Promise–to our Babies!

According to the Abbott Labs “Promise for Life”:

We strive to earn the trust of those we serve by committing to the highest standards of quality, excellence in personal relationships, and behavior characterized by honesty, fairness and integrity.

Well, it looks like their commitment to the highest standards is lacking. They recently announced a recall of millions of containers of Similac-brand powdered infant formula. Yes, a product for the youngest and most vulnerable. It may be contaminated with insect parts. I won’t go into details, but it’s not something you want in your baby’s GI tract.

According to their press release on their website dated Sept. 22, 2010, the company calls this recall “proactive” and “voluntary” and said that the chances of one having a problem was “a remote possibility.” Seems like they’re saying they are responsible for a quality problem that may not exist. Would they want their babies to be drinking beetles or their larvae every 3-4 hours? Babies are often colicky. Who would guess that the formula was contaminated?

If they truly believe in their Promise for the highest standards of quality, then they must not just promise it, they must live by that standard each and every day. And all employees must consider high quality as a standard that is never violated. If a few prime values are truly part of an organization’s core culture, then those become the guideposts that no one violates. Maybe it’s time for Abbott Labs to rethink their culture and their Promise and be sure that it is more than nice-sounding words.