DC Health advises parents of infants to avoid using potentially contaminated infant formula

(Washington, DC) Today, DC Health advises parents and caregivers of infants not to use infant formula that has been recalled by the FDA for possible bacterial contamination.

Abbott Nutrition announced Feb. 17 that it is voluntarily recalling powdered infant formula produced at its Sturgis, Michigan plant. This includes Similac, Alimentum and EleCare brand formulas. The full FDA press release is available here.

DC Health advises consumers not to use Similac Advance, Similac Sensitive, Similac Total Comfort, Similac for Spit Up, Alimentum, EleCare Infant, and EleCare Jr. powdered formula if:

  • The first two digits of the code range from 22 to 37; and
  • The code on the container contains K8, SH or Z2; and
  • Expiry date is 4-1-2022 (April 2022) or later.

The code is printed on the product packaging near the expiration date (see product images

below). If the formula does not contain all three, it is unaffected by the recall and can continue to be used safely. To check if the lot number is included in the recall, go to similiacrecall.com/us/en/product-lookup.html.

Lot number location

What parents and guardians should do

  • If you have one of these boxes, DO NOT give formula to your baby.
  • Instead, give your baby one of these other infant formulas:

Formula recalled

Alternative formula

Advance Similac

Enfamil Infant
Enfamil NeuroPro Infant
Family Enspire
Other cow’s milk formulas

Sensitive Similac

Enfamil NeuroPro Sensitive
Gerber good start soft
Other cow’s milk formulas

Formula recalled

Alternative formula

Similac Total Comfort

Family Gentleease
Enfamil NeuroPro Gentlease
Enfamil Enspire Gentleease
Enfamil Regulin
Gerber Jumpstart GentlePro
Gerber Jumpstart SoothPro
Other cow’s milk formulas

Similac for spitting

Family AR

food

Nutramigene

Elecare

Neocate
Puramino

  • Return your unused cans of the recalled formula to the store where you purchased it for a refund or contact Similac at www.similacrecall.com or 1-800-986-8540.
  • If your infant has consumed the recalled formula and has fever, diarrhea, poor feeding, listlessness or other unusual symptoms, seek immediate medical attention for your child.

DC Health reminds parents and caregivers that infant formula should never be diluted. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the box to prepare the formula. Learn more here. Additionally, parents and caregivers should not make or give infants homemade infant formula.

DC Health is alerting local WIC providers and WIC families to the voluntary recall. WIC families are encouraged to call their clinic if they cannot get a resolution from the store. Contact information for the local WIC agency can be found on the DC WIC website at dcwic.org/wic-locations.

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