2022 Similac Baby Formula Recall: Everything You Need to Know
Key takeaways:
Abbott Nutrition recalled three brands of powdered formulas in February 2022. These brands are Similac, Similac Alimentum, and Elecare.
If you have one of these formula brands at home, check Abbott’s website to see if your product is part of a recalled lot.
In most cases, you can switch your child to another formula brand available in stores. But, if your child’s formula was recommended by their pediatrician, contact them for advice on an alternative formula option.
Infant formula is commonly used in the U.S — less than 50% of babies are exclusively breastfed through 3 months of age. In February 2022, a manufacturer of many nutritional products (Abbott Nutrition) announced a voluntary recall of some of their infant formula brands. The recall included three types of powdered formulas: Similac, Similac Alimentum, and Elecare. Similac is a common infant formula brand, so this recall has affected many babies.
This voluntary recall has led to a nationwide formula shortage. Below, we’ll cover everything you need to know about the recall — why it happened, which products are recalled, and what to do if you’re having trouble finding your baby’s formula product
Why was Similac baby formula recalled in 2022?
Some baby formula products were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer (Abbott Nutrition) in February 2022. This happened after four babies became sick with a bacterial infection after ingesting the formula.
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The formulas may have been contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii — a type of bacteria that can make you sick if you consume it through food or drinks. It’s especially dangerous for babies. The formula products were produced at Abbott Nutrition’s factory in Sturgis, Michigan. No other factory has been affected as of March 2022.
All four infants were hospitalized. Devastatingly, two died. It’s possible that Cronobacter infections may have contributed to these two deaths. Cronobacter can cause serious infections, including blood infections (sepsis) and brain infections (meningitis).
The FDA also investigated a report of Salmonella infection in a baby who recently ingested a Similac product. But, the FDA determined that there wasn’t enough evidence to link the Salmonella infection to any Abbott Nutrition formula products.
Which Similac products have been recalled?
Abbott Nutrition has a wide variety of infant formula products. Similac, Similac Alimentum, and Elecare are the brands that have been recalled. But, within each of these brands, there are multiple products. Each product works a little differently or has different ingredients.
For example, Similac products include Similac Advance, Similac Organic, and Similac Pro-Advance — just to name a few. This means the recall includes more products than you might expect. In fact, the recall includes close to 50 individual products.
No liquid formula products are included in the recall.
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Is my child’s formula part of the recall?
Not all Abbott Nutrition formulas have been recalled. The recall only applies to specific batches (lots) of formula that were made during a given time period.
How do I find the lot number on my formula product?
Your formula’s lot number will help you figure out if it’s safe to use. Lot numbers are found on the bottom of the formula container. They are 7 to 9 digit codes, made of letters and numbers. There may be a letter at the start of the code. For example, L31465SH00 contains an “L” before a 9-digit lot number.
How can I check if my formula product is part of the recall?
If your product is part of the recall, it will meet all three criteria below:
The first two digits of the lot number start with 22 through 37. This doesn’t include the letter at the start of the lot number, if there is one (e.g. in the lot number L31465SH00, “31” is the start of the lot number).
The lot number contains one of the following: K8, SH, or Z2.
The expiration date is April 1, 2022 (APR 2022) or later.
One specific product — Similac PM 60/40 — was added to the recall later on. Only two lot numbers are included in that part of the recall: 27032K80 for individual cans and 27032K800 for cases of Similac PM 60/40.
The FDA has a list of recalled products on their website. And if you have one of these products at home, you can check if your product has been recalled on Abbott’s website. You’ll need the product’s lot number to do this.
Should I throw away my child’s Similac formula if I have it at home?
No, don’t throw away any formula you might have at home.
First, check if you have a Similac product that’s included in the recall using Abbott’s website. If it’s not included in the recall, your product is safe to use.
If your specific product is included in the recall, don’t use it. But you shouldn’t throw it away either because you’ll need to return the product to get a refund.
Can I get a refund on recalled Similac products?
When you enter a formula product’s lot number on Abbott’s website, you’ll be able to learn if your product is included in the recall. If it is, you’ll be directed to enter more information. Abbott will send you instructions on how to return the product. You can also call Similac customer service at 800-986-8540.
Another option is to return your formula product to the place you bought it from. According to Abbott, this is the fastest way to get a refund.
For more questions about how to get a refund on recalled formula, check out Abbott’s frequently asked questions page.
What if I recently fed my child a recalled Similac product?
If your child recently ingested a formula product that’s been recalled, pay attention to whether they have any symptoms of Cronobacter infection. Sickness from Cronobacter infections usually starts with a fever. Poor feeding, crying, and low energy can occur next. Some children may also have seizures.
If your child has any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare provider immediately. Your child should be seen right away. If they’re having trouble breathing or have abnormal movements, take them to the emergency room.
How long should I monitor my child after exposure to the recalled formula?
Cronobacter infections can be scary, but they’re rare — even if your child has ingested the recalled formula recently. We don’t know exactly how long it takes kids to get sick after exposure to Cronobacter, but it’s likely symptoms show up between 2 to 14 days after exposure. If two weeks have passed, it’s unlikely that your child will get sick from Cronobacter after this timeframe.
What should I do if I can’t find my child’s specific formula product?
Remember, this recall is only for specific lots of powder formula. If your child’s formula is not part of the recalled lots, they can keep using it. But, if you’re having a hard time finding your child’s specific formula brand, here are some tips that may help:
Check online retailers or smaller stores for formula. They may have more availability than larger stores. Make sure to buy from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies. Avoid individually sold or auction sites. Make sure to avoid formulas from overseas that were illegally imported. These formulas may not have been reviewed by the FDA.
Consider switching to another formula product or brand. Most babies can switch to any available formula, including store brands. It can even be the same brand you were using, as long as it’s not in a recalled lot. But for babies who use a medically necessary type of formula (like hypoallergenic or amino-acid based formulas), you may not be able to switch to just any formula. More on this below.
Use the power of social media. There are online groups for parents where members may have ideas for where to find formula. And some parents are willing to donate unopened cans of formula that they no longer need. If you accept any donations, make sure the can is unopened and has not expired.
Homemade baby formula isn’t recommended. Commercially available formulas are made with strict safety standards in place. Our home kitchens probably wouldn’t live up to these standards, so homemade baby formulas can be contaminated with bacteria. Homemade formulas also may not contain the right amount of vitamins and minerals for your baby, which could lead to serious health issues like malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.
What if my child was using a medically necessary formula?
Remember, this recall is only for specific lots of powder formula. If your child’s formula is not part of the recalled lots, and you can find it online or in stores, they can keep using it. And as discussed above, if you can’t find your specific formula product, you can usually replace it with any other standard formula product.
But, there are instances where this may not be safe. For example, some children take Similac Alimentum because it is one of the few hypoallergenic formulas available in the U.S. Hypoallergenic formulas are often recommended for children who have certain allergies, like a milk protein allergy.
And some kids' allergies are severe enough that they can’t even tolerate hypoallergenic formulas. In these babies, an amino-acid based formula (like Elecare) may be recommended by your pediatrician. You usually can switch one hypoallergenic formula for another. The same goes for amino-acid based formulas. But if your baby needs hypoallergenic or amino-acid based formulas and you can’t find any suitable alternatives, you might be able to get the product directly from Abbott.
Since these medically necessary formulas are often vital for babies who need them, the FDA is allowing Abbott to release these products (like Elecare and Similac Alimentum) on an individualized basis. But make sure to discuss this with your pediatrician first. Your pediatrician should determine whether the need for these products outweighs the risk of bacterial infection. If you and your pediatrician decide you need these Abbott products, you can contact Abbott directly at 1-800-881-0876.
What is the FDA and U.S. government doing about the recall?
The FDA states that they’re working with Abbott tto help them safely resume operations at their Sturgis, Michigan facility again.
The FDA is also working with other manufacturers of infant formula to help them increase the amount of product they produce. And they’re allowing infant formula products from other countries to enter the U.S. more easily. This only applies to brands that are usually available in the U.S. and are FDA-reviewed.
To make sure that infant formula is available for all babies who need it, the FDA is asking major retailers to limit how much product a person can buy at a time. The U.S. government is also working with states to monitor and prevent “price gouging” of infant formula. This is when sellers of infant formula raise the prices knowing that there’s a shortage, and parents are desperate to find formula for their baby.
The bottom line
In February 2022, Abbott Nutrition recalled three brands of powdered formulas: Similac, Similac Alimentum, and Elecare. Only specific lots of these products were recalled, but it led to a nationwide shortage of formula in the following months that’s still ongoing as of May 2022. If you have one of these formula brands at home, you can use Abbott’s website to see if your product is part of a recalled lot. If your product is recalled, don’t give it to your child.
Reputable online retailers or smaller stores may be more likely to have formula in stock than larger stores. And if you’re having trouble finding your baby’s specific formula product, consider switching to an alternative product. But if your child’s formula was specifically recommended by their pediatrician, and you’re having trouble finding it, contact them for advice on an alternative formula option.
Why trust our experts?
Abbott. (n.d.). Refund FAQs.
Abbott. (n.d.). Similac products.
Abrams, S. (2022). With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find any? American Academy of Pediatrics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Breastfeeding report card.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Choosing an infant formula.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Cronobacter infection and infants.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Signs and symptoms.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Frequently asked questions regarding the recall of certain Abbott nutrition powdered infant formulas.
EatRightPRO. (2022). Infant formula supply chain information.
O’Connor, N. R., et al. (2009). Infant formula. American Family Physician.
The White House. (2022). Fact sheet: President Biden announces additional steps to address infant formula shortage.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Abbott voluntarily recalls powder formulas manufactured at one plant.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA takes important steps to improve supply of infant and specialty formula products.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). FDA investigation of cronobacter infections: Powdered infant formula (February 2022).
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Powdered infant formula recall: What to know.
