In February 2022, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning about certain powdered infant formulas which may have been contaminated with bacteria. Those formulas have since been recalled and removed from shelves. Now, due to increased demand for alternative formulas and industry-wide supply chain issues, there is a nationwide formula shortage.
Most families depend on infant formula in some capacity, and this shortage has created a crisis for parents with young children. The Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP) has sent two letters to the U.S. Government urging immediate action — both federally and locally — to increase the supply of safe infant formula. The FDA and several formula companies are taking steps to improve the supply.
In the meantime, families need to have access to formula to safely feed their infants. To help, CHOC’s clinical nutrition and lactation services team offers recommendations to families for finding formula options and using suitable substitutions for recalled formulas.
Recommendations for families who need formula
In response to the formula shortage, CHOC suggests that parents:
• Do not make or feed homemade formulas to infants.
• Do not water down or dilute infant formula.
• Speak with their pediatrician about formula options and substitutes.
• Reach out to the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program if recipients.
• Stock up on a few extra cans when possible.
• Consider buying formula online.
• Make sure any formulas from outside the U.S. are FDA-approved.
Most retailers nationwide offer their own brand of infant formula. Since no store-brand infant formulas are involved in the current recall, the following store-brand formulas are suitable for substitutions:
- Parent’s Choice – Walmart
- Member’s Mark – Sam’s Club
- Up & Up – Target
- Comforts – Kroger
- Kirkland Signature – Costco
- Mama Bear – Amazon
- CVS Health – CVS
- Little Journey – Aldi
- Well Beginnings – Walgreens
For infants on a specialty formula, it is especially important to speak with your pediatrician about formula changes and substitutes during this time.
CHOC’s formula recall substitution list
As of May 2022, CHOC’s clinical nutrition and lactation teams suggest the following substitutions for recalled formulas:
| Formula category | Substitutions |
|---|---|
| Standard infant formula – intact protein Recalled Similac Pro Advance powder Recalled Similac Total Care 360 powder | Enfamil Newborn, infant or reguline Similac Organic Parent’s Choice Organic (Walmart) Gerber Good Start Gentle Earth’s Best Gentle Bobbi (as of 5/17, temporarily not accepting new customers) Byheart infant formula *Gerber Good Start Soy *Similac Isomil Soy *Mead Johnson Prosobee Soy *Parent’s Choice Soy (Walmart) |
| Infant formula for spit up – intact protein Recalled Similac Spit Up powder | Similac for Spit-up Ready to Feed Liquid Mead Johnson Enfamil A.R. Parent’s Choice Added Rice |
| Infant formula for lactose intolerance, fussiness and colic – intact protein and partially hydrolyzed protein options Recalled Similac Sensitive | Similac Sensitive Ready to Feed Liquid or Concentrate liquid Mead Johnson Enfamil Gentlease Up & Up Gentle (Target) Up & Up Sensitivity (Target) Gerber Good Start Soothe Earth’s Best Sensitive *Gerber Good Start Soy *Similac Isomil Soy *Mead Johnson Prosobee Soy *Parent’s Choice Soy (Walmart) |
| Infant Formula for gastrointestinal (GI) sensitives, low lactose – extensively hydrolyzed Recalled Similac Total Comfort powder | Similac Total Comfort Ready to Feed Liquid Gerber Good Start Gentle Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort (Walmart) |
| Hypoallergenic, Extensively Hydrolyzed Infant Formula for gastrointestinal (GI) sensitives Recalled Similac Alimentum Powder | Similac Alimentum Ready to Feed Liquid Mead Johnson Nutramigen concentrate and powder Gerber Good Start Extensive HA Parent’s Choice Hypoallergenic (Walmart) Up & Up Hypoallergenic (Target) |
| Hypoallergenic, Amino Acid Based Infant Formula Recalled Elecare Infant | Neocate Infant Neocate Syneo (NOT for use in kids with Short Bowel Syndrome) Mead Johnson Puramino DHA & ARA Infant Nestle Alfamino Infant |
| Hypoallergenic, Amino Acid Based Pediatric Formula for Ages 1 and up Recalled Elecare Junior All Flavors | Neocate Junior Neocate Syneo (NOT for use in kids with Short Bowel Syndrome) Mead Johnson Puramino Junior Nestle Alfamino Junior |
