Infant formula is one of the most critical food products regulated in the United States — for many babies, it is their sole source of nutrition. When infant formula is recalled, the urgency is acute: contaminated or nutritionally deficient formula can cause serious illness, developmental harm, or death in infants. If you're asking whether your baby's formula has been recalled, check immediately.
This page explains how to check your specific formula product, which agency oversees formula recalls, the most common recall reasons, and exactly what to do if your formula is affected.
Step 1: Find the lot number and use-by date.
These are printed on the bottom or side of the container — on the can lid for powdered formula, on the bottom of liquid cans, and on the label of liquid concentrate and ready-to-use bottles. The lot number is the primary identifier for formula recalls, since contamination events almost always affect specific production lots rather than an entire product line.
Step 2: Find the product code.
Powdered formula cans have a product code that encodes the formula type, lot, and facility. This code is included in most FDA recall notices.
Step 3: Find the UPC code.
The UPC barcode on the container is another key identifier in recall notices.
Step 4: Search Recall Tracker.
Go to Recall Tracker and enter your brand name and formula product name. Review any results and compare your lot number and use-by date against the affected ranges in the recall notice.
Step 5: Use the barcode scanner.
The barcode scanner at /scan can scan your formula container's UPC directly and check it against the recall database — the fastest verification method.
Step 6: Set up alerts.
Go to brands, find your formula manufacturer, and follow them for automatic notifications if future recalls affect your brand.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has strict regulatory oversight over infant formula under the Infant Formula Act of 1980 and subsequent amendments. The FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) regulates formula composition, manufacturing, and labeling.
Infant formula manufacturers must notify the FDA before introducing a new formula, meet specific nutrient composition requirements, and follow Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations. When safety issues arise, the FDA coordinates recalls with manufacturers and has the authority to mandate recalls if manufacturers do not act voluntarily.
The 2022 Abbott/Similac recall — the largest infant formula recall in recent U.S. history — illustrated both the FDA's role and its limitations. The recall, combined with pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, created a nationwide formula shortage. For a detailed account of how that recall unfolded and what it meant for formula safety regulation, see the infant formula recall guide.
The most serious infant formula recalls involve bacterial contamination. Newborns and young infants have immature immune systems that make them extremely vulnerable to bacterial pathogens that older children and adults could fight off with minimal symptoms.
Cronobacter sakazakii is the pathogen most associated with deadly infant formula contamination. It can cause severe meningitis, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborns — particularly premature infants and those with low birth weight. Cronobacter infections from formula have very high mortality rates.
The 2022 Abbott/Sturgis plant recall was triggered in part by Cronobacter contamination. The recall covered Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered formulas produced at the Sturgis, Michigan facility.
Salmonella has also been identified in formula recalls. Like Cronobacter, salmonella can cause severe illness in young infants. The 2011 Enfamil recall involved a salmonella link that was ultimately not confirmed to originate in the formula, but the incident illustrates how seriously the FDA takes potential contamination events.
Infant formula must meet strict nutrient composition requirements because formula may be the only source of nutrition an infant receives. Recalls have addressed formula with:
These recalls illustrate why the FDA's strict compositional requirements for formula exist. A mistake in nutritional formulation can harm infant development in ways that may not become apparent for months or years.
Recalls have addressed formula contaminated with physical foreign materials including metal fragments from processing equipment, insect parts, and other manufacturing byproducts. These can cause choking, intestinal injury, or blockage.
Sealing failures and can defects can allow contamination after manufacturing and allow air or moisture into what should be a sealed product. Some recalls address packaging issues rather than the formula itself — but compromised packaging creates a contamination risk regardless of origin.
Formula with ingredients not disclosed on the label — or with incorrect nutrient values listed — has been subject to recall. For infants with allergies, metabolic conditions, or specific dietary needs, undisclosed ingredients can be dangerous.
The 2022 Abbott recall created a national infant formula shortage that exposed the fragility of the U.S. formula supply chain. Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan facility produced approximately 40% of the U.S. supply of powdered formula. When the FDA shut down the facility following a Cronobacter investigation, the concentrated production structure meant there was no backup capacity to fill the gap.
The shortage forced parents of formula-dependent infants to make agonizing decisions about feeding. It also accelerated FDA regulatory reform and increased scrutiny of formula manufacturing inspections.
The ByHeart recall of 2024 is a more recent example of how quickly formula safety situations can develop — see the ByHeart formula recall guide for a detailed account.
Stop using the recalled formula immediately. This is the only situation where we recommend this without qualification — infant formula is a baby's primary or sole nutrition source, so the risk of contamination must be weighed against the risk of inadequate nutrition. Act immediately to find a safe alternative.
Find an alternative formula. Contact your pediatrician before switching formula, especially for infants with allergies, metabolic conditions, or special nutritional needs. Your doctor can advise on safe alternatives and whether any interim feeding approach is appropriate. Do not attempt to make homemade formula — the nutrient balance requirements are very difficult to meet without commercial formulation.
Contact the manufacturer. The recall notice includes manufacturer contact information. Formula recalls almost always offer a full refund. Keep your packaging with the lot number and UPC visible.
Monitor your baby. If your baby has been feeding on recalled formula, watch for symptoms that may indicate illness:
Seek immediate medical attention if your baby shows any of these symptoms after consuming recalled formula. For Cronobacter or other bacterial contamination recalls, time is critical.
Report the incident. If your baby became ill from recalled formula, report it to the FDA at fda.gov/safety/medwatch. These reports help the FDA track the scope of contamination events and protect other families.
Even with non-recalled formula, proper handling significantly reduces the risk of contamination:
Infants with specific medical needs — premature birth, galactosemia, phenylketonuria (PKU), cow's milk allergy, or other conditions — may depend on specialty formulas with no readily available substitute. If a specialty formula is recalled, contact your pediatrician and the formula manufacturer immediately. The FDA typically works with manufacturers to identify alternative sources during specialty formula recalls because of the medical necessity involved.
The lot number is printed on the bottom or side of the container. For powdered formula in cans, it's typically on the bottom of the can. The recall notice will list the specific lot numbers or date ranges affected. Compare your packaging directly against the recall notice. If you're unsure, call the manufacturer's recall hotline — most have dedicated lines active during any recall.
Yes, particularly for bacterial contamination recalls involving Cronobacter or Salmonella. These infections can have delayed onset in infants, and early treatment dramatically improves outcomes. Contact your pediatrician and describe the formula your baby was eating and for how long. Even if your baby appears well, a precautionary call is warranted for serious contamination recalls.
Retailers are required to remove recalled products from shelves promptly. However, stock may not be removed immediately from all locations, and recalled formula in consumers' homes is not automatically collected. This is why checking your own supply is important — the recall database covers formula in your home regardless of whether it's been removed from store shelves.
Contact your pediatrician for guidance. They may be able to recommend specific alternatives, write a prescription that enables access to specialty retailers or hospital sources, or advise on temporary supplementation strategies. Do not attempt homemade formula. Contact the WIC program if you are enrolled — WIC agencies often have access to emergency formula supplies during shortages.
The FDA investigates consumer complaints and illness reports linked to formula, conducts inspections of manufacturing facilities, and tests product samples. When an investigation reveals a contamination or formulation issue that poses risk to infants, the FDA works with the manufacturer on a voluntary recall. If the manufacturer does not act, the FDA has authority to mandate the recall under the Infant Formula Act. The FDA also has authority to order a recall if it determines the formula presents an imminent hazard.
The complete history of infant formula recalls is available in the infant formula recall guide. You can also search the full recall database on Recall Tracker, filtering by agency (FDA) and product category. The FDA agency page links to the FDA's own recall database and regulatory information.
Search all infant formula recalls to verify your specific product's status. Follow your formula brand on the brands page for automatic alerts. For the complete guide to formula recall history and safety, see the infant formula recall guide. You can also check recall statistics to understand patterns in food recall frequency and response times.
Start with the exact product details on the can or bottle: brand name, product type, lot code, and use-by date. FDA recall notices typically identify recalled formula by those codes, not just by brand, so two containers from the same brand may have different recall status. You can scan the package barcode at /scan or search the manufacturer at /brands to match the product details faster.
Stop using the product immediately and save the container so you still have the lot code, UPC, and use-by date for your pediatrician, retailer, or the manufacturer. Watch for vomiting, diarrhea, poor feeding, fever, unusual sleepiness, or signs of dehydration, and seek urgent care if your infant seems seriously ill. RecallTracker Premium at /pricing is useful if you want ongoing alerts instead of checking recalls manually.
No. Most formula recalls apply to specific lots, package sizes, or manufacturing dates, not every product sold under a brand name. That matters for national brands and store brands alike, because private-label formulas can share manufacturers while still having different lot numbers and recall scope. Use /brands to compare brand families, then confirm the exact package with /scan.
Powdered infant formula is not sterile, while ready-to-feed liquid formula is made to be sterile when used as directed. CDC says ready-to-feed is the safer option for higher-risk infants, especially babies younger than 2 months, premature infants, or babies with weakened immune systems. If you track recall trends or contamination-related events, the breakdowns on /statistics can help you see how often formula safety issues are linked to specific products or categories.
Usually yes, but the process depends on the recall notice and the retailer or manufacturer handling it. Many FDA recall announcements tell consumers whether to throw the product away, return it to the store, or contact the manufacturer directly for a refund or replacement, so keep the container and receipt if you still have them. If you buy formula regularly, Premium at /pricing can help you catch recalls earlier and avoid buying the same affected product again.