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Many infants in the U.S. rely on infant formula for some or all of their nutrition. Ensuring that the youngest and most vulnerable individuals have access to safe and nutritionally adequate formula products is a top priority for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The agency regulates the production of infant formulas to help ensure that these products are safe and support healthy growth in infants who consume them. The agency also works with multiple partners in public health to ensure that parents and caregivers have the latest information regarding safe preparation of infant formula and to answer questions regarding the safety and nutritional quality of formula. In addition, the FDA is working on multiple fronts to support the availability and resiliency of the infant formula market.
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How does the FDA oversee the safety and nutritional quality of infant formula?
Infant formula is a food that may be the sole source of nutrition for infants (i.e., children up to 12 months of age) as an alternative to human milk. The FDA regulatory requirements address, among other issues, the safety, nutritional adequacy, packaging, and labeling of these products. The FDA does not approve infant formulas; however, infant formula manufacturers must notify the agency before marketing a new formula. The FDA’s highly trained staff review these notifications to make sure new formulas meet federal nutrition, labeling, and other requirements. If a product does not meet applicable requirements, the formula may be deemed adulterated, misbranded, or both, and the FDA has the authority to take enforcement action. For example, the FDA can require a mandatory recall of product if the agency determines that an adulterated or misbranded infant formula presents a risk to human health.
Among the requirements for infant formulas, the FDA specifies 30 nutrients that must be included in infant formulas. There are minimum amounts for all 30 nutrients and maximum amounts for 10 nutrients. In addition, any ingredient used in infant formula must be safe and suitable for such use. Additionally, sanitary controls are required by law to prevent contamination and other safety problems from occurring. For example, manufacturers must establish a system of controls designed to ensure that infant formula does not become adulterated due to the presence of microorganisms in the formula or in the processing environment. Further, the FDA regulations set forth certain testing requirements of finished product for Salmonella and Cronobacter. FDA regulations also require that the water the companies use to manufacture formulas meets safety standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The FDA has specific requirements for labeling infant formulas. Information that is most helpful for caregivers of infants includes directions for preparation and use, and a pictogram showing the major steps for preparing infant formula, a “use by” date.
The FDA inspects facilities that manufacture infant formulas annually and carefully trains its investigators to ensure that every infant formula inspection is robust, thorough, and focused on the most critical aspects of the infant formula manufacturing process.
All Infant formula products sold in the U.S., whether produced domestically or imported, must meet all U.S. requirements, including those for safety and nutritional adequacy. Caregivers should use caution when ordering imported products online or from third party distributors because some of these products have not undergone FDA’s rigorous premarket review process and do not meet U.S. requirements for safety or nutritional adequacy.
Advice for Parents and Other Caregivers
While breastfeeding is strongly encouraged by the American Academy of Pediatrics, most infants in the U.S. rely on infant formula for some or all of their nutrition. The agency is working with manufacturers, who are now required to have risk redundancy plans, to ensure a stable and consistent supply of infant formula in the U.S., but we recognize that at times it may be difficult to find the formula you need. The Department of Health and Human Services has made resources available explaining what to do if you can’t find your formula.
Products on the Market
Check with your infant’s health care provider to determine which infant formula to choose.
Routine formulas are formulas intended for healthy, full-term infants. These formulas may contain cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or soy. Some formulas for healthy, full-term infants are specifically manufactured to address specific but common digestive needs. For example:
- Partially hydrolyzed infant formula contains cow’s milk proteins that have already been partially hydrolyzed, or broken down, and may be easier to digest.
- Spit-up formulas are thickened with the aim of reducing acid reflux.
- Lactose-free formula contains no lactose (a sugar found in milk) for infants that have difficulty digesting it.
Specialty formulas are intended for use by an infant who has allergies, low birth weight, an inborn error of metabolism or who otherwise has an unusual medical or dietary problem. Some of these formulas are not available in retail settings and may be prescribed by a physician. Examples include:
- Hypoallergenic formulas with extensively hydrolyzed protein that are effective for the treatment of milk protein allergy. In these formulas, the protein has been broken down so that it can be more easily digested.
- Amino-acid-based formulas, which contain amino acids as their protein source. These formulas can be used for infants with severe milk allergies, short-gut syndrome, or other medical conditions.
- Infant formulas for premature infants, which may include more nutrients and calories to meet their increased nutritional needs.
- Formulas to treat a specific medical condition such as an inborn error of metabolism. For example, a formula for individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU) does not contain the amino acid phenylalanine.
Due to their composition and intended use to address specific conditions, specialty formulas may be exempt from certain nutrition labeling and nutrient specifications.
Infant formulas come in three forms:
- Powder — Must be mixed with water before feeding.
- Liquid concentrate — Must be mixed with an equal amount of water before feeding.
- Ready-to-feed — Requires no mixing.
The infant formulas currently available in the U.S. must be labeled as either “Infant Formula with Iron” or “Additional Iron May Be Necessary.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that formula-fed infants receive an “Infant Formula with Iron” as a way of preventing iron-deficiency anemia.
Finding Safe Substitutes
Occasionally, you may need use an infant formula that’s different than the one you normally feed your child. The Department of Health and Human Services has a website with dedicated information on finding safe substitutes which was developed with input from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN).
It’s important to note that most babies will do just fine with different brands of formula, including store brands, as long as they’re the same type, like cow’s milk-based, soy, hypoallergenic (extensively hydrolyzed), or elemental (amino acid-based).
If you need help figuring out which formulas you may be able to substitute:
- Your pediatrician or other health care provider is always the best resource because they know your baby and their health history.
- You can also check this list of comparable formulas developed by an organization of pediatric gastroenterologists called NASPGHAN. Keep in mind that this list focuses on substitutes for formulas that were part of the February 2022 recall, so you might not see your baby’s formula listed here. Any substitution should only be done under the recommendation and supervision of your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.
It may take some time for your baby to get used to the new formula; however, if you notice that your baby begins to vomit, has gas, is crying or can’t be calmed down during feedings, is losing weight, has diarrhea, has blood or mucus in their poop, or is straining to poop, they may not be tolerating the new formula. Call your pediatrician or other health care provider if you have questions.
Safe Preparation and Feeding of Formulas
The safe preparation and feeding of formulas is important to your baby’s health for many reasons. Safe preparation can help prevent infant formula from becoming contaminated with harmful pathogens that can cause foodborne illness, such a Cronobacter or Salmonella. The FDA recommends caregivers prepare infant formula according to instructions on the infant formula label to ensure safety and to uphold the nutritional quality of the formula. These labels should also include information on proper storage and disposal of prepared formula. The FDA also recommends using safe handling techniques. For example, bottles, rings, caps, and nipples need to be cleaned and sanitized. Caregivers should also be mindful of the “Use By” Date, which is the date up to which the manufacturer guarantees the nutrient content and the quality of the formula.
Don’t Feed Infants Homemade Infant Formula
The FDA advises parents and caregivers not to make or feed homemade infant formula to infants. Homemade infant formula recipes have not been evaluated by the FDA and may lack nutrients vital to an infant’s growth. The agency has received reports of hospitalized babies who have been fed homemade infant formula and then suffered from hypocalcemia (low calcium). Other potential problems with homemade formulas include contamination. These problems are serious, and the consequences may range from severe nutritional imbalances to foodborne illnesses, both of which can be life-threatening.
Toddler Nutritive Drinks
Toddler nutritive drinks, often marketed as “toddler formulas,” are not necessary to meet the nutritional needs of older babies. Babies younger than age 12 months should be fed infant formulas specifically designed to meet their nutritional needs. They should not be fed toddler drinks or formulas labeled for toddlers. Additionally, toddler nutritive drinks do not undergo premarket review by FDA.
Identifying and Reporting a Problem
If you have concerns about infant formula, contact your health care provider and FDA at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332). To report a complaint or adverse event (illness or serious allergic reaction), visit Industry and Consumer Assistance.
Information for Infant Formula Manufacturers
Manufacturers of infant formula must comply with applicable Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requirements and those contained in the FDA’s implementing regulations. More information on these requirements can be found on the FDA’s Infant Formula Guidance Documents & Regulatory Information webpage. In addition, the FDA has held a series of webinars (see Webinar Series to Discuss the Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion), for which recordings are now available, that discuss infant formula requirements.
A manufacturer who intends to market a new infant formula in the U.S. must register with, notify, and submit a written verification of regulatory compliance to the FDA. The FDA encourages infant formula manufacturers to contact [email protected] with questions about infant formula. New infant formula submissions must generally be sent to the FDA at least 90 days before the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of a new infant formula. In response to the infant formula supply disruption that followed the 2022 Abbott voluntary recall, the FDA has also taken multiple steps to improve the resiliency of the infant formula supply, including by providing manufacturers some flexibility through the exercise of enforcement discretion. You can learn more about this work through the agency’s Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion.
In 2022, safety concerns with powdered infant formula led to a voluntary recall of specific lots of powdered infant formula products manufactured at an Abbott Nutrition facility in Sturgis, Michigan. Since then, the agency has taken steps to enhance the safety of powdered infant formula through the development of a prevention strategy, enhanced inspection activities, increased engagement with the infant formula industry, and by pursuing regulatory action when appropriate.
In March 2023, the FDA issued a letter to the powdered infant formula industry to share current safety information and call on the industry to take prompt action to improve processes and programs for the protection of infants. Among a number of items in the letter, the FDA asked that firms voluntarily notify the FDA any time a product sample is found to be positive for Cronobacter spp. or Salmonella, even if the affected lot(s) have not been distributed. For these notifications of product positives, the FDA recommends that firms report this information through the Office of Regulatory Affairs (“ORA”) Division representative in which the manufacturing facility is located (see this ORA Field Leadership Contacts for further information). Continued communication through this established channel will help ensure that the information is received, acted on, and routed most appropriately in an efficient and timely manner.
The FDA also issued three warning letters to infant formula manufacturers in August 2023 to reinforce the importance of instituting and maintaining appropriate corrective actions when pathogens are detected and to comply with FDA’s laws and regulations. In addition, in September 2023 the FDA updated its infant formula compliance program to outline the agency’s approach for inspections, sample collection, sample analysis, and compliance activities related to the oversight of infant formula.
The Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act of 2022 amended the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to add new requirements for manufacturers of critical foods, such as infant formula, including requirements:
Latest News
Date | Release |
---|---|
December 31, 2023 | Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products |
December 13, 2023 | FDA Provides Update on Actions to Strengthen the Safety and Supply Chain Resiliency of Infant Formula |
October 6, 2023 | FDA Issues Updated Compliance Program for Infant Formula |
September 20, 2023 | FDA Provides Update on the Cronobacter Prevention Strategy |
September 14, 2023 | FDA Alerts Parents and Caregivers to Concerns Regarding LittleOak Infant Formula |
May 19, 2023 | FDA Announces National Academies Study of Supply, Market Competition, and Regulation of Infant Formula in the U.S. |
April 26, 2023 | FDA to Host Two Webinars on Infant Formula Food Ingredients and Packaging Requirements |
March 28, 2023 | FDA Outlines Immediate National Strategy to Further Increase the Resiliency of the U.S. Infant Formula Market |
February 28, 2023 | FDA Provides Update on Proposed Human Foods Program and Office of Regulatory Affairs Restructuring |
February 23, 2023 | What FDA’s Foods Program Achieved in 2022 to Protect Consumers and the Food Supply |
January 31, 2023 | FDA Proposes Redesign of Human Foods Program to Enhance Coordinated Prevention and Response Activities |
January 9, 2023 | FDA Issues Letters of Acknowledgement for Infant Formula Transition Plan |
November 17, 2022 | Webinar Series to Discuss the Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion |
November 16, 2022 | Focusing on Prevention to Safeguard Infant Formula |
Food Safety & Nutrition from FDA
Imported Infant Formula and Infant Formula Supplies
Alerts
Resources from Other Agencies
- Hypoallergenic formulas with extensively hydrolyzed protein that are effective for the treatment of milk protein allergy. In these formulas, the protein has been broken down so that it can be more easily digested.
- Amino-acid-based formulas, which contain amino acids as their protein source. These formulas can be used for infants with severe milk allergies, short-gut syndrome, or other medical conditions.
- Infant formulas for premature infants, which may include more nutrients and calories to meet their increased nutritional needs.
- Formulas to treat a specific medical condition such as an inborn error of metabolism. For example, a formula for individuals with Phenylketonuria (PKU) does not contain the amino acid phenylalanine.
- Powder — Must be mixed with water before feeding.
- Liquid concentrate — Must be mixed with an equal amount of water before feeding.
- Ready-to-feed — Requires no mixing.
- Your pediatrician or other health care provider is always the best resource because they know your baby and their health history.
- You can also check this list of comparable formulas developed by an organization of pediatric gastroenterologists called NASPGHAN. Keep in mind that this list focuses on substitutes for formulas that were part of the February 2022 recall, so you might not see your baby’s formula listed here. Any substitution should only be done under the recommendation and supervision of your pediatrician or other healthcare provider.
- to develop, maintain and implement risk redundancy plans to identify and manage risks to the supply of the critical food to help prevent future supply chain disruptions. The FDA recently developed a new resource for the industry to help raise awareness and understanding of this new requirement.
- to notify FDA of meaningful disruptions in the production of formula that could lead to shortages.
- Handling Infant Formula Safely: What You Need to Know
- Safe Feeding of Babies at Higher Risk of Foodborne Illness (Consumer Infographic)
- Tips for Safely Preparing Powdered Infant Formula (Consumer Infographic)
- Information for Health Care Professionals on Safe Handling of Infant Formula
- Help Prevent Cronobacter Illness: Prepare and Store Powdered Infant Formula Safely (Consumer Infographic)
- Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formula
- Do’s and Don’ts with Infant Formula
- FDA Advises Parents and Caregivers to Not Make or Feed Homemade Infant Formula to Infants
- Food Safety Booklet for Pregnant Women, Their Unborn Babies, and Children Under Five
- Food Safety for Moms-To-Be – See Once Baby Arrives (Cuando llega el bebé)
- Foodborne Pathogens: E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, Cyclospora, Cronobacter sakazakii, and Hepatitis A
- Food Safety for Infants & Toddlers
- Tips for Preparing Imported Infant Formula
- Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage (HHS)
- Enforcement Discretion for Infant Formula
- Immediate National Strategy to Increase the Resiliency of the U.S. Infant Formula Market
- FDA Advises Parents and Caregivers Not to Buy or Give Mother’s Touch Formula to Infants (2022)
- FDA Investigation of Cronobacter Infections: Powdered Infant Formula (2022)
- Additional Safety Advisories
- Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness
- Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts
- Breastfeeding | NIH
- Children’s Health | MEDLINEplus
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) | USDA – WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.
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