Promoting proper food handling and preparation for patient safety

What feeding risks are your patients exposed to?

Breast milk and formula provide babies with many beneficial nutrients, but improper handling of both can present potentially serious feeding risks.

Understanding powdered formula risks

Once opened, powdered formula containers risk exposure to moisture, foreign matter and oxygen. Use without proper hygiene may lead to bacterial contamination¹.

Although they are rare, certain bacteria such as Enterobacter (E.) sakazakii can cause serious infection and illness in infants¹.

Understanding breastfeeding risks

Everything breast milk comes in contact with outside the body leaves it susceptible to potentially harmful bacteria that can pose serious health risks².

Certain processes, such as indirect breastfeeding and pump expression, can increase the chances of breast milk contamination if not done correctly².

Point parents to this helpful preparation and safety guide:

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Teach parents how to reduce risks through proper techniques

Preparing breast milk

Make sure parents follow these protocols for safely expressing and handling breast milk³:

Clean hands thoroughly with soap and water
If using a pump kit, make sure all components are clean
If thawing breast milk, always start with the oldest and never use a microwave
If heating breast milk, don’t do it directly over the stove or in the microwave

Storing breast milk

Storing breast milk properly can help safeguard against contamination³:

Clearly label breast milk with expressed date
Store containers away from refrigerator and freezer doors to protect against unwanted temperature changes
Immediately freeze expressed breast milk that will not be used within four days
If traveling, breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler with ice packs for up to 24 hours

Download Full CDC Guidelines

Educate parents on correct formula preparation and handling protocols

Preparing formula

Following these steps can help ensure parents are preparing formula as safely as possible^1,4:

Pick a designated preparation space and sanitize it thoroughly
Wash hands well before preparing bottles and feeding
Mix powdered formula with water from a safe source, and always measure water first
Take extra precautions if a baby is younger than 3 months old, was born prematurely or has a compromised immune system

Storing formula

After preparing powdered formula, parents should feed immediately or cover and store in the refrigerator for no longer than 24 hours^1,4:

Label cups and bottles with important information (like date and time of preparation) for better traceability
If possible, having a designated refrigerator for formula is recommended

Download Full WHO Guide

Cleaning and sterilizing feeding equipment

Between feedings, it’s crucial for parents to properly clean and sterilize cups, bottles, pump kits and other infant feeding items.

Educate parents on the steps they can take to help prevent bacteria from contaminating breast milk or infant formula^5,6:

Separate and inspect all bottle and pump kit parts before placing in dishwasher or washing by hand
Check with product manufacturer to ensure dishwasher safety, then use the “sanitize” setting for extra protection
Wash hands before handling and storing cleaned equipment
Don’t use a dish towel to dry equipment, as it may transfer germs

Whether fortifying breast milk or formula-feeding, safe preparation and storage are paramount.

With a wide range of infant formulas available and in-depth resources for preparation, Mead Johnson Nutrition always has the health and safety of your patients in mind.

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Non-FDA registered formulas can come with safety concerns—find out if your patients are at risk

Help caregivers make informed decisions

Imported formulas are readily available to U.S. consumers through third-party vendors.

Because there’s no guarantee these formulas have been reviewed or inspected by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) expressed concern about their consumption.

View AAP Article

Make sure your patients’ formulas are meeting their allergy requirements

Infants with certain food allergies may require special hypoallergenic formulas, but definitions of hypoallergenic differ between the U.S and other countries⁷.

For example, certain European formulas labeled as hypoallergenic on third-party sites contain partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, which are not suitable for infants with cow’s milk allergy (CMA)⁸.

In the U.S., formulas must demonstrate 90% tolerability among children with CMA in clinical studies before they can be considered hypoallergenic. Most of these formulas are either extensively hydrolyzed or amino acid-based⁹.

Don’t leave formula preparation to interpretation

When preparing imported formulas, certain crucial instructions can get lost in translation.

Mixing a formula incorrectly or misinterpreting an expiration date because of language barriers can lead to nutrient imbalances that impact growth and contribute to certain illnesses⁷.

To help avoid illnesses caused by improper preparation, the FDA requires formulas manufactured and distributed in the U.S. to comply with specific labeling requirements¹⁰.

Point caregivers to this helpful piece that compares European and U.S. formulas:

Download PDF

Know where your formula has been, from manufacturing to use

Without federal regulation, unofficial distribution and improper storage at various points of the supply chain can lead to deterioration in product quality⁹.

Imported formulas that skirt FDA review may not be tested for harmful pathogens before they’re consumed by your patients, and there’s no guarantee the formula packaging meets FDA safety requirements¹¹.

If a formula is tainted for any reason, you and your patients’ caregivers need to know as soon as possible. However, because imported formulas are manufactured in another country, news of a recall may not reach the U.S. right away⁷.

Help ensure that your patients receive the proper nutrients in supported amounts

Imported formulas that haven’t been submitted for FDA review may be nutritionally incomplete¹¹.

In a review of 14 European formulas, 10 did not list one of the FDA-required nutrients on their labels⁸. More specifically, eight had less than the recommended 1 mg of iron per 100 calories, yet none indicated that additional iron may be needed⁸.

While U.S. formulas are designed for the first year of life, imported infant formulas may be staged differently, such as from 0-6 months and 6-12 months. Caregivers who don’t realize this may not be feeding babies the appropriate amounts and combinations of nutrients for their age⁸.

Download this study for a more thorough comparison of U.S. and European formulas:

See Study

Advise caregivers to always choose FDA-reviewed infant formulas

Imported formula use is on the rise. Talk to parents about the potential risks and encourage them to choose formulas manufactured in the U.S.

Mead Johnson strictly adheres to FDA safety and quality standards, so your patients get the nutrients they need.

Discover our closest-ever formula to breast milk:

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Easy-to-digest proteins: