I made some comments on another thread here on HN about the Infant Formula Shortage, and how the individuals strains of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria from the unfortunately deceased infants did not match the strains of Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria found at the food production facility, did not match each other, but, the baby food production facility was shut down anyways. [1]
Exactly. The reason the plant was shut down was because it had poor sanitation.
What probably happened: company got the initial reports of deaths, did a one-off sanitation effort but didn't address systemic hygiene/sanitation issues, and the plant ended up with contamination again.
I don't think it's unreasonable to close it. I don't know anything about this bacteria, but is it normal to find it in the formula?
If another child died someone would have to explain 'well we let it open because whole we found bacteria in the product, it was not exactly the same bacteria that killed the other kids'.
EDITED.
[1] https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2022/04/five-strains-of-bacte...