July 12, 2022

Latest Links for more information on the formula shortage

• US Department of Health and Human Services Infant Formula Website: hhs.gov/formula
• North American Society For Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition (NASPGHAN) Tools for Infants and Children Affected by Formula Shortages: https://naspghan.org/recent-news/naspghan-tools-for-hcps-affected-by-formula-recall/
• Facts about imported baby formula from the American Academy of Pediatrics: https://downloads.aap.org/HC/ImportedFormula_FB.jpg
• US Department of Health and Human Services Infant Formula Social Media Toolkit: https://www.hhs.gov/formula/social-media-toolkit/index.html
• White House Fact Sheet on the Biden-Harris Administration’s Progress Addressing the Infant Formula Shortage: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/06/17/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administrations-progress-addressing-the-infant-formula-shortage/
• White House Infant Formula Website: https://www.whitehouse.gov/formula
• MedWatch: The FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program: https://www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch-fda-safety-information-and-adverse-event-reporting-program
• FDA Update: Enforcement Discretion to Manufacturers to Increase Infant Formula Supplies: https://www.fda.gov/food/infant-formula-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/enforcement-discretion-manufacturers-increase-infant-formula-supplies

Options for our WIC clients for the Similac recall: ND WIC is offering our participants the following three options for exchanging a formula product for participant flexibility:
1. Return to Vendor.  WIC participants have the same rights as all other consumers under this recall. Abbott states on its website that consumers may return recalled product to the vendor where it was purchased.  
2. Return to Clinic.  WIC participants have the option to return recalled product to the WIC clinic. The clinic may then reissue EBT benefits to allow WIC participants to purchase product that provides a similar reconstituted yield to the recalled product.  If the store is unable to process the return/exchange, they may direct the WIC participant to the WIC office to handle issuing a different product.
3. Return to Abbott.  WIC participants have the same rights as all other consumers under this recall and may follow directions from Abbott, provided via www.similacrecall.com or
1-800-986-8540 for returning recalled product.  Abbott has informed ND WIC that this process is taking up to 4 weeks, so this would not be a quick process.
Information Regarding Recalled Product
The recall comes after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
and state and local partners conduct investigations of four consumer complaints of infant illness related to products originating at Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, MI, location.
The investigation and recall are limited to powdered infant formula products that include the brand names Similac®, Alimentum®, and EleCare® and have:
    Product code: First two digits are 22 through 37, and the code on the container contains “K8,” “SH,” or “Z2”
    Expiration date: 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later
Visit www.similacrecall.com and press check lot number. Enter number from bottom of the can. If recalled, do not feed it to your baby.
If your formula is not part of the recall please do not throw it away.