Important recall on baby and toddler powdered formula products:
Due to the formula recall, you may not be able to find the formula that your baby usually takes. Below are a few resources that can help you find the formula that you need or a substitute product.
- Similac product finder
- Enfamil product finder
- Nutricia product finder
- Instacart: EBT SNAP benefits accepted at participating stores; free delivery for first 3 orders using SNAP for orders over $35. Available at multiple retailers (HEB, Sam’s, Aldi, Costco, CVS, etc) with available formula.
- Amazon.com (SNAP benefits)
- Alternative Options when WIC product is unavailable (link to PDF with the list of products)
- Helping Families find formula during the infant formula shortage
Infant Formula Safety Tips
Follow these infant formula tips to ensure the safety and health of your baby:
Choose an infant formula that's safe. For more information on choosing an infant formula that's safe, visit the CDC and FDA pages on the topic.
Don't make homemade infant formula. See the FDA's page for more information.
Do not buy formula online that comes from outside the United States. This formula could be counterfeit, for example it might have a fake label with a wrong use-by-date.
Properly prepare and store infant formula. For information on proper preparation and storage, visit the CDC's page.
Properly clean, sanitize, and store infant feeding items. Visit the CDC's page for more information.
Always wash your hands. For information on how and when to wash your hands, visit the CDC's page.
Important recall on baby and toddler powdered formula:
Dear member,
Texas Children’s Health Plan supports our members, their families, and communities by notifying them of important health information. Please continue reading to learn more about an urgent recent baby formula recall.
Baby Formula Recall
Texas Children’s Health Plan received notice of an urgent recall from The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for certain powdered infant formulas.
The FDA is warning parents not to use the recalled products. These recalled powdered infant formulas may be contaminated with Cronobacter and Salmonella, bacteria that can cause severe illness caused by food contamination.
Which formulas are included in the recall?
The recall includes certain Similac Advance, Similac Total Comfort, Similac Sensitive, Similac for Spit-Up, Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, EleCare and EleCare Jr. powdered formulas. Check the lot number on the bottom of the formula to see if it has the following:- The first two digits of the code are 22 through 37; and
- The code on the container contains K8, SH, or Z2; and
- The expiration date is 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later.
If your lot number is not in this range, your lot is safe and you can continue to use the formula.
Check to see if your product is recalled:
Enter the lot number on the bottom of the formula on the Abbott website. If your product is included in the recall, do not use it but do not throw it away.
What do I do if my formula is part of the recall?
If your formula is part of the recall, do not use it. A contaminated formula could make your baby very sick. Click here to obtain a refund or replacement or you can also call Similac at 800-986-8540 to get a refund or replacement. Recalled infant formula can be returned to the store for an exchange. If you received formula from WIC, you can return it to WIC for the an exchange. For special formulas that require a prescription, contact your baby’s doctor to get a new one. If you have questions, please contact your child’s doctor.
What if my formula is not available?
If your formula is not available, contact your child’s health care doctor to talk about new feeding options.
Need help finding a provider? https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/doctor
Is there a list of other brands I can use?
For Similac Advance, Similac Total Comfort, Similac Sensitive and Similac for Spit-Up, WIC has temporarily added more options so parents can find a formula that meets their babies’ needs without updating their cards. For a list of brands that you can get with WIC, visit https://texaswic.org/about-wic/special-wic-food-updates
For Similac PM 60/40, Alimentum, EleCare and EleCare Jr., contact your child’s doctor to ask for a new prescription. Since these are special formulas, a doctor must be consulted to make sure that the new formula meets the infant’s medical needs.
Who can I reach out to for help?
If you have questions, call your child’s health care provider. If you need help in connecting with your provider or finding a provider, call us or visit: https://www.texaschildrenshealthplan.org/doctor
- CHIP: 1-866-959-6555
- STAR: 1-866-959-2555
- STAR Kids: 1-800-659-5764
You can also call your care coordinator for help. Interested in joining our case management program? Call us at 832-828-1430.
Facts about the Cronobacter bacteria:
Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections (sepsis) or meningitis (an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine). It may also cause bowel damage and spread through the blood to other parts of the body.
Symptoms to watch for:
- Poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, jaundice (yellow skin and whites of the eyes), grunting breaths and abnormal movements.
Salmonella is a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis.
Symptoms to watch for:
- Diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps. More severe cases of salmonellosis may include high fever, aches, headaches, lethargy, rash, blood in the urine or stool, and in some cases, may become fatal.
The health of our members is our top priority. If you have used this product and are concerned about the health of your child, please contact your child’s pediatrician. If your child has any of the above symptoms, please call your child’s health care doctor and seek medical care immediately.
To learn more about Cronobacter, please visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Additional Resources:
- Find more about the recall at the Food and Drug Administration
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-warns-consumers-not-use-certain-powdered-infant-formula-produced-abbott-nutritions-facility - See how WIC is helping families get replacement formula
https://texaswic.org/health-partners - Abbott’s Recall notice and general FAQ’s
https://www.similacrecall.com/us/en/home.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29mTgPiY9gIVAuTICh3JnwQLEAAYASAAEgKpiPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds - What should I know about the infant formula recall:
ttps://www.healthychildren.org/English/tips-tools/ask-the-pediatrician/Pages/What-should-I-know-about-the-infant-formula-recall.aspx
Autism Services Benefit
February 1, 2022
The Autism benefit is available starting February 1, 2022, for STAR and STAR Kids members up to 20 years of age who have been diagnosed with autism by a doctor. Texas Children’s Health Plan providers that offer autism services are located throughout our service areas. The availability of providers changes by service area. Because this is a new benefit, the network is limited. We are actively working to grow our provider network. For a list of FAQ's click here