UPDATED: Local Agency Infant Formula Recall Guidance
UPDATED: March 1, 2022
The State WIC Program continue to work with Abbott and USDA to address infant formula shortages resulting from supply chain issues and exacerbated by the Abbott recall of certain infant powdered formulas.
State WIC has authorized use of the following non-contract brands and formulas until shortages related to the recall are resolved.
Standard Formulas (Powder)
Participants may redeem the following alternate non-contract formulas without medical documentation or changes to their food package. Please be aware that this changes are TEMPORARY to address shortages and that once supplies are healthy of Abbott contract products, you will be required to redeem the appropriate contract formulas within your benefits. Additional products may be added in the future. We will update you as new products are approved and authorized.
| Contract Formula | Non-Contract Alternate | Size(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Similac Advance - 12.4 oz | Always My Baby Advantage HMO CVS Health Advantage HMO Enfamil Neuropro Infant Powder Enfamil Infant Good Start Gentle Gerber GoodStart Gentle Pro Infant Powder Good Start Gentle Supreme A2 Powder Parent's Choice Advantage HMO and Non-GMO Parent’s Choice Infant Non-GMO Similac 360 Total Care Powder Similac Pro-Advance Powder Tippy Toes Advantage Premium Tippy Toes Infant Up & Up Advantage Infant Up & Up Infant Well Beginnings Advantage HMO | 23.2 oz 12.4 oz, 23.2 oz, 35 oz 20.7 oz; 28.3 oz 12.5 oz 12.7 oz 20 oz; 32 oz 20 oz 12.4 oz; 23.2 oz, 36oz 12.5 oz; 22 oz; 35oz 30.8 oz 30.8 oz 23.2 oz; 34 oz 22.2 oz; 35 oz 23.2 oz; 35 oz 35 oz 23.2 oz |
| Similac Total Comfort 12.6 oz | Always my Baby Gentle CVS Health Complete Comfort Enfamil Reguline Powder Enfamil Gentlease Powder Enfamil Neuropro Gentlease Gerber Good Start Soothepro Powder Parent's Choice Gentle Powder Similac Pro-Total Comfort Parent’s Choice Complete Comfort Powder Tippy Toes Gentle Up & Up Gentle Non-GMO Up & Up Complete Comfort | 21.5 oz 22.5 oz 12.4 oz; 19.5 oz 12.4 oz; 19.9 oz; 27.7 oz 19.5 oz; 27.5 oz 12.4 oz; 19.4 oz; 30.6 oz 12 oz; 21.5 oz; 34 oz 29.8 oz 22.5 oz, 29.8 oz 21.5 oz, 33.2 oz 21.5 oz, 33.2 oz 29.8 oz |
| Similac Sensitive | Always My Baby Sensitivity Premium CVS Health Sensitivity Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive Powder Similac 360 Total Care Sensitive Similac Pro-Sensitive Parent’s Choice Sensitivity HMO Parent's Choice Sensitivity Non-GMO Tippy Toes Sensitivity Premium Up & Up Sensitivity Non-GMO Up & Up Sensitivity Well Beginnings Sensitivity Non-GMO | 22.5 oz 22.5 oz, 33.2 oz 19.5 oz 30.2 oz 29.8 oz 12 oz 22.5 oz, 33.2 oz 22.5 oz 33.2 oz 22.5 oz 22.5 oz |
| *Similac Spit Up | Parent’s Choice AR Powder Enfamil AR Up & Up Added Rice Starch | 32.2 oz 12.9 oz 32.3 oz |
| Contract Formula | Non-Contract Alternate | Size(s) |
|---|---|---|
EleCare® (All powdered can sizes) | Mead Johnson PurAmino Powder Nestle Alfamino Infant Powder | 14.1 oz 14.1 oz |
Alimentum® (All powdered can sizes) | CVS Hypoallergenic Infant Gerber GoodStart Extensive HA Powder | 12.6 oz 14.1 oz |
*Medical Documentation required.
Participants that are unable to find the above products should contact their local agency to void and re-issue benefits to be able to substituted. Benefits will be issued for 30 days only.
Special Formulas
The following non-contract brand special formulas have been added as alternates. Participants will need to contact their local agency before purchasing alternate products. Medical documentation must be obtained from the health care provider to allow issuance of the alternate formula. We will update you as new products are approved and authorized. Benefits will be issued for 30 days only.
Participants must be aware that these formula substitutions are temporary, and their food packages will be changed back to the original contract formulas once this crisis is resolved.
Returning or Exchanging Impacted Abbott Formulas
Participants with formula on hand should visit www.similacrecall.com to find out if the formula is included in the recall. On the website go to Check Lot Number to see if your product is affected by this recall. Participants should NOT throw affected formula away or feed it to their babies.
The first course of action is to return formula to the retailer for a return or exchange. Retailers have been informed that participants should be treated the same as all other customers when following store policy recall procedures with respect to the recall exchange process.
For more information visit our State WIC page https://portal.ct.gov/dph/WIC/WIC.