Advice for Families During the Current Formula Shortage for Infants With Food Allergies
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Health Canada has published information for families during the current shortage of formula for infants with food allergies. A downloadable information sheet is available at https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/documents/services/infant-care/shortage/shortage.pdf
On February 17, 2022, Abbott initiated a voluntary recall of powder infant formulas produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan. The facility supplied a large amount of powdered infant formulas in the US, Canada and many other countries. Its closure has worsened a global shortage of infant formula. On June 4, 2022, the plant was re-opened but was forced to close again on June 15 due to damage caused by a severe storm. Infant formula will gradually become available in the coming months, starting with specialized infant formula.
Health Canada reassures that there is no current shortage of regular infant formula in Canada. However, there is currently a shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions. This includes extensively hydrolyzed formulas and amino acid-based formulas. They ask parents not to buy more infant formula than you need for immediate use, especially hypoallergenic formula that infants with food allergies need, stressing that we all need to conserve specialized infant formulas for infants with medical conditions at this time.
It should be noted that Health Canada does not recommend extensively hydrolyzed formulas for:
The prevention of food allergies. No formula has proven benefits for allergy prevention.
Infants with a sensitivity to lactose, unless they also have an allergy or other medical condition requiring these formulas.
The information sheet gives more detailed information on these items, but the main points include:
DO:
Breastfeed your baby, if you can.
Maintain or increase your breastmilk supply if you are combining bottle-feeding and breastfeeding.
Reserve specialized infant formulas for babies with allergies and medical conditions.
Speak to a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, registered dietician or nurse about your baby’s needs.
Try a different brand of formula under the recommendation of your healthcare provider. It’s normal for infants to take time to adjust to a new formula.
Follow label instructions when preparing infant formula.
Introduce solid foods when you baby is about 6 months old.
DON’T:
Make homemade infant formula. It can put your infant’s health at serious risk.
Dilute or water down your infant formula to extend its use. This dilutes the nutritional content of the formula and can put your infant’s health at risk.
Buy more infant formula than you need, especially hypoallergenic formula that infants with food allergies need.
Use formula from other countries unless they are approved by Health Canada
Use infant formula from unknown sources, such as online third parties.
Use breast milk obtained online or directly from other individuals.
Substitute infant formula for other beverages, like cow’s milk, goat’s milk, evaporated milk, fortified or unfortified plant-based beverages (like soy, oat, rice, almond, coconut, cashew).