300,000 Cans of Formula Were Just Released: Here’s How to Get One

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared formula manufacturer Abbott Nutrition to release 300,000 cans of its EleCare formula ahead of the factory restart. EleCare formulas are hypoallergenic and are primarily used by families with infants who have severe food allergies or gastrointestinal disorders that require amino acid-based formulas.

EleCare (for infants 0-12 months) and EleCare Jr (for ages one year and up) will immediately be released free of charge. Parents in urgent need can reach out to their pediatrician to request a shipment or directly to Abbott at +1-800-881-0876. The company said it would start shipments this week.

The announcement comes as a welcome relief for parents who have struggled to find a formula replacement that meets the special ingredient requirements for baby. EleCare was one of three formulas recalled by Abbott Nutrition in February 2022. Many parents were forced to throw out their stock during the recall and have since had a difficult time finding new cans.

The EleCare cans to be released were manufactured ahead of the shutdown, but families can rest assured these batches are safe. The FDA has tested the formula and has determined it meets all product release requirements. Plus, Abbott has done additional, enhanced testing to provide assurance the product is safe to distribute.

Abbott says the limited inventory of EleCare they have should be enough to fulfill family needs until production restarts on June 4. The company plans to manufacture EleCare first, followed by other hypoallergenic formulas like Similac and Alimentum.

In the meantime, here are expert-backed tips on what you can do to ensure baby gets the nutrition they need. If you need access to formula, check out these 16 resources to help you in your search.