Information for families on the limited supply of infant formula
On this page
- Current Situation
- Types of infant formula
- What to do if you cannot find your usual formula
- About the limited supply
- Related information
Current Situation
The supply of infant formula in Canada is currently limited. An important infant formula manufacturing facility in the United States closed for several months following a product recall in February 2022. This facility produced several popular products that accounted for a significant portion of the Canadian infant formula market. Although the facility reopened in July, it has not yet returned to its normal production capacity. This has increased the demand for infant formulas produced by other manufacturers.
The situation was critical during the summer of 2022 for specialized infant formula, including formula for babies with allergies. Health Canada mitigated the shortage by facilitating the importation of formula from other countries and recommending that specialized formulas be ordered through a pharmacist to make sure they were available for babies who needed them for medical reasons. The shortage of hypoallergenic formulas has now largely subsided and is replaced by a limited, but stable supply.
For regular infant formulas, the total supply remains sufficient to feed all Canadian babies. There are however fewer products and formats available, as manufacturers work to compensate for an increased demand for their products. In particular, the lower cost options, such as store brand powdered formulas, have often been out of stock since the fall of 2022. Although comparable products from other brands continue to be available, these may be more expensive, and this can be challenging for families who are also facing other pressures.
Health Canada is working closely with infant formula manufacturers to increase product supply, including those intended for hospitals and special medical use that are not available at retail. The Department also continues to collaborate with provinces and territories, and with the healthcare community, to minimize the impacts of this situation on Canadian families.
Types of infant formula
Regular infant formula
These types of products include non-hydrolyzed formulas for healthy babies and partially hydrolyzed formulas for babies with gastrointestinal discomfort. They are found on shelves in retail stores and pharmacies, and are also available to order through online retailers and on manufacturer websites.
Hypoallergenic infant formula
These types of products include extensively hydrolyzed formulas and amino acid-based formulas. For several months in 2022, these specialized products could only be purchased through a pharmacist.
Supplies of extensively hydrolysed and amino acid-based formulas have now stabilized in Canada. Therefore, starting in late October 2022, certain extensively hydrolyzed products began returning to store shelves, at the discretion of manufacturers. The products that were imported from other countries during the shortage and that do not have a bilingual label will continue to be available for order at the pharmacy counter while supplies last. Bilingual labelling for these products is available on Health Canada's website and from your pharmacist.
Speak to your pharmacist to learn more about the products available for ordering.
Extensively hydrolyzed formulas are generally used for mild to moderately severe allergies.
Brand names currently available on store shelves in Canada include:
- Nutramigen®A+, powder
- Nutramigen®A+ LGG, powder
- Pregestimil®A+, powder
Speak to your pharmacist to order additional products temporarily imported from other countries to alleviate the shortage, including:
- Similac®Alimentum®with 2'-FL, ready-to-feed
- Enfamil®Nutramigen®liquid concentrate
- Aptamil®ProExpert Pepti, powder
Amino acid-based formulas are recommended for severe allergies that are life-threatening and are usually available by prescription. These will remain behind the pharmacy counter.
Brand names normally found in Canada include:
- Neocate®Infant DHA & ARA
- Puramino®A+
Additional products temporarily imported from other countries to alleviate the shortage include:
- Alfamino®Infant
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.
What you can do if you cannot find your usual infant formula
There are alternatives if your usual formula is not available. Speak to your healthcare professional if you need help finding the best option for your situation. Speak to your pharmacist to order equivalent hypoallergenic products that are not found on shelves.
Also, some manufacturers have toll-free phone numbers or live chat features on their website that may provide assistance to locate their products.
Do
- Breastfeed your baby, if you can.
- Maintain or increase your breastmilk supply if you are combining bottle-feeding and breastfeeding.
- Check the manufacturer's website for resources to locate a formula.
- Reserve specialized infant formulas for babies with allergies and medical conditions.
- Speak to a healthcare professional, such as a doctor, registered dietitian or nurse about your baby's needs.
- Consider a different size or format of infant formula.
- Try a different brand of formula under the recommendation of your healthcare provider if your usual product is unavailable. It's normal for infants to take time to adjust to a new formula.
- Speak to a pharmacist to access amino acid-based infant formula and certain extensively hydrolyzed infant formulas not stocked on shelves.
- Follow label instructions when preparing infant formula.
- Introduce solid foods when your 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).
Speak to a healthcare provider
Discuss your baby's needs with a qualified healthcare professional, such as a:
- doctor
- registered dietitian
- nurse practitioner
They can help recommend possible formula substitutes and strategies to transition them into your baby's diet.
If you cannot access your regular health care provider for timely advice, contact the Telehealth service in your province or territory.
Explore breastfeeding resources
If you can, breastfeed your baby. Breast milk is the best choice for most babies with or without food allergies. If you stopped breastfeeding within the past 6 weeks, consider restarting. If you combine bottle-feeding and breastfeeding, try to maintain or increase your breast milk supply.
There are plenty of resources that can help you. Many people can give support and advice, including:
- a lactation consultant
- your healthcare provider (doctor, nurse, midwife)
- breastfeeding support groups, like La Leche League
You can also talk to a registered dietitian if you're breastfeeding and need to follow a diet that avoids specific allergens.
Health Canada does not recommend using human breast milk obtained online or directly from other individuals.
Learn more:
- La Leche League Canada
- Breastfeeding (Caring for Kids)
- Find a Dietitian (Dietitians of Canada)
- Safety of donor human milk in Canada
- Ten valuable tips for successful breastfeeding
Try a different formula
All infant formulas approved in Canada are safe and provide the nutrition your baby needs. Some infant formulas are available in several formats, such as powder, ready-to-feed, or liquid concentrate. In addition, some manufacturers are focusing production on larger size containers to increase output, so your usual formula may be available in a different container than you usually buy. If you cannot locate your usual infant formula, consider an alternate size, format or different brand of infant formula.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider first if your infant has allergies or medical conditions impacting their feeding, or if you have concerns.
Formula Switching Tips
Some families find that these strategies help their baby adjust to a new formula. Your healthcare provider can tell you if these or other strategies are right for you.
- Start gradually: Start by replacing a small amount of your baby's bottle with the new formula, and gradually increase that amount at each feeding. Make sure to follow the instructions on the label for each formula to prepare and store them appropriately.
- Be patient: It's normal for infants to take time adjusting to a new formula. They may become gassy or fussy but this should improve in a few days.
Continue with a trial of any new formula for at least 7 to 14 days unless severe symptoms occur, such as:
- immediate vomiting
- difficulty breathing
- generalized hives
- loss of consciousness
- noticeable weight loss
- severe diarrhea (sometimes with blood in poop)
Try formula from another country
Health Canada has allowed certain infant formulas from other countries to be sold in Canada temporarily to alleviate the shortage, including extensively hydrolyzed and amino acid-based formulas. These formulas must meet the same rigorous safety standards as Canadian products to be added to the list of authorized products.
Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider for advice on whether your infant can try any of these formulas. Your pharmacist can help you find these products.
- Do not use formula from other countries unless they are on this list.
- Do not use infant formula from unknown sources, such as online third parties.
Learn more:
Speak to a pharmacist
Some extensively hydrolyzed and amino acid-based formulas can only be ordered at the pharmacy counter. Talk to your pharmacist to learn about these products.
Health Canada provided information to support pharmacists:
- A list of all hypoallergenic infant formula that can be found during the shortage
- Product information to help them find these formulas with their distributor(s)
- Label information in both official languages for formulas being imported from other countries
Once you order hypoallergenic formula from your pharmacist, it may take a few days for them to receive the order. It is best to reach out to your pharmacist before you run out of supply.
Learn more:
Feed your baby safely
Do not try to make homemade infant formula. It can put your infant's health at serious risk. Commercial infant formula contains many important nutrients that can't be recreated at home. Follow label instructions for preparing infant formula.
Do not 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.
Other beverages are not substitutes for infant formula. This includes:
- cow's milk
- goat's milk
- evaporated milk
- Fortified or unfortified plant- based beverages (like soy, oat, rice, almond, coconut, cashew)
These substitutes do not meet the nutritional needs of infants.
There is also generally no need to keep using formula if your child is healthy and over 12 months old.
Learn more:
About the limited supply
On February 17, 2022, Abbott initiated a voluntary recall of powder infant formulas produced at its facility in Sturgis, Michigan. This facility was closed on the same day.
The facility supplied a large amount of powdered infant formulas in the US, Canada and many other countries, and its closure resulted in important market disruptions.
The plant re-opened on July 1, 2022 but is not expected to return to full production capacity until sometime in 2023. The supply of infant formula will likely remain limited until this facility is back to normal.
Health Canada is monitoring the availability of infant formula products closely and continues to take action to minimize the effects on Canadian families.
We meet regularly with manufacturers, distributors, retailers and the health care community to:
- raise awareness
- facilitate increased production
- facilitate the importation of formula from other countries
- reduce or eliminate barriers to providing rapid and fair access to infant formula
Learn more:
Related information
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