Mothers participating in WIC are encouraged to breastfeed their infants if possible, but State WIC agencies will provide formula to mothers who choose to use it. WIC State agencies are required by law to have competitively-bid infant formula rebate contracts with infant formula manufacturers.

The WIC Nutrition Program is a supplemental program and is not designed to supply all the nutrition that a baby needs. Federal regulations limit the amount of formula to about 26 ounces per day for infants. Children over the age of one can receive additional 3.4 ounces of formula per day with documentation of need by the physician. WIC wants all mothers to choose to breastfeed their babies.

Infant feeding advice provided to parents follows recommendations by the AAP and Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition. The Maine WIC Nutrition Program encourages all mothers to breastfeed their infants for one year. WIC recommends the introduction of infant cereal at 4-6 months, and the progressive introduction of fruits, vegetables and meats beginning at 6 months. Parents are advised to serve all juice in a cup, and limit it to no more than 2-3 ounces/day.

The Alaska WIC Program supports the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy that exclusive breastfeeding is the ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for full-term infants during the first 6 months after birth and should be continued with the addition of age-appropriate introduction of solid foods and juices, at least through the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired (AAP, Work Group on Breastfeeding.

The use of infant formula after freezing is not recommended. Although freezing does not affect nutritional quality or sterility, physical separation of the product's components may occur.

WIC Nutritionists can consult with the physician about the appropriate choice of formula. Certain information is needed to provide special formulas. Most special infant formulas can be provided by WIC. Certain special formulas must be prescribed by a specialist. WIC has worked with the medical community to simplify this process. If you have any questions contact the State Nutrition Coordinator at 800-437-9300 or the nutritionist at your local WIC office.

The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) defines infant formula as "a food which purports to be or is represented for special dietary use solely as a food for infants by reason of its simulation of human milk or its suitability as a complete or partial substitute for human milk" (FFDCA 201(z)). FDA regulations define infants as persons not more than 12 months old (Title 21, Code of Federal Regulations 21 CFR 105.3(e)).

The Alaska WIC Program has entered into an agreement with Mead Johnson Nutritionals. Mead Johnson Nutritionals provides Enfamil Lipil, ProSobee Lipil, and Lactofree Lipil as the sole source milk-based and soy-based formulas for WIC participants. The agreement is a federally mandated cost containment system. It provides a savings to the Alaska WIC Program. This savings allows the Alaska WIC Program to serve additional caseload with the WIC grant.

Infant formula is available in three forms: ready-to-feed, concentrated liquid and powder. Ready-to-feed is used "as is." Concentrated liquid (the only liquid that comes in a 13 ounce can) and powder must be diluted with water according to instructions on the label. Ready-to-feed and concentrated liquid infant formulas are commercially sterile. Powdered formulas are not sterile.

Infant formulas contain energy-providing nutrients (protein, carbohydrate and fat) as well as water (an essential nutrient) and appropriate vitamins and minerals. The energy nutrients provide the calories necessary to maintain bodily functions, support activity, and promote growth. They also support desirable immune functions as an outcome of overall nutrition. Protein provides the building blocks necessary to form and repair tissue.

No. All infant formula containers carry "use by" or "use before" dates to ensure that the consumer receives a wholesome, high-quality product. Formula should not be bought or fed beyond the expiration date. After the expiration date, some vitamin levels decrease and changes in physical properties, such as discoloration and separation of fat, may occur.

open can of liquid infant formula can be kept for up to 48 hours, if tightly covered and immediately placed in the refrigerator. Bottles of formula made from liquid should be refrigerated and used within 48 hours. Formula that is prepared from powder and placed in bottles for feeding should be refrigerated and used within 24 hours. The remaining powder should be tightly covered and stored in a cool, dry place and used within a month after opening.

Formula that is removed from refrigeration should be used within two hours or discarded. Because of possible bacterial contamination, formula remaining in a bottle one hour after the start of feeding should also be discarded.

Microwave ovens should NEVER be used for heating infant formulas since there is a danger of overheating the liquid. During the microwaving process, the bottle may remain cool while hot spots develop in the formula. Overheated formula can cause serious burns to the baby.

Infant formula is tested for 29 nutrients (as defined by the Infant Formula Act) to assure that each batch provides the appropriate nutrition for infants. In addition, IFC member companies carefully monitor the ingredients used in infant Formula to help assure that product quality is not compromised.

Unfortunately, lack of clean water is a reality in many developing countries. The vast majority of women in developing countries breastfeed, and at the same time give their baby additional traditional foods, or just plain water. If for some reason a baby is not breastfed he or she needs a breast-milk substitute. Until everyone has a safe water supply, the only solution is to teach mothers the importance of boiling water and how to prepare infant formula correctly.

Infant formula is the only product recommended by the UN's food standards body as an appropriate substitute for breast-milk. For working mothers in the developing world who can afford it, infant formula can be a vital product, as the mothers are commonly obliged to return to work when their baby is a few months old, and often forced to be away from their babies from sunrise to sunset.

The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition is responsible for regulation of infant formula. The Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements (ONPLDS) has program responsibility for infant formula. The Office of Food Additive Safety (OFAS) has program responsibility for food ingredients and packaging. ONPLDS evaluates whether the infant formula manufacturer has met the requirements under section 412 of the FFDCA.

described in section 412(c)(2)(B) of the FFDCA and 21 CFR 106.30(c)(2), a major change is a change in either the formulation or processing of an infant formula that could result in a possible significant adverse impact on levels of nutrients or availability of nutrients so they would no longer meet the requirements of the section 412 of the FFDCA.

This is a question that should be addressed by your pediatrician. Vance's DariFree was not designed as an infant formula. Most pediatricians recommend that children under 30 months of age receive a diet that consists of at least 50% fat for proper brain development. DariFree is fat-free.

No. The nutrient content of various baby foods, either commercially prepared or homemade, varies considerably. Additionally, during the period of transition when an infant is gradually increasing both the type and the amount of solids being eaten, the formula still contributes substantially toward meeting the infant's nutrient requirements. During this time, either breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula can most appropriately meet these requirements.

Sterilization of all equipment and water used in preparing infant formula is commonly recommended until a health professional decides it is unnecessary. Check with your physician. When you are preparing infant formula, your own personal cleanliness, as well as that of any utensils that you use, is important. The American Dietetic Association does not recommend preparing formula with boiling hot water due to problems with physical stability of the formula (e.g.

This is not at all the case. First and most importantly, Nestlé fully supports the UNAIDS/WHO/UNICEF Collaborative Policy Statement on HIV and Infant Feeding, which states that HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) can be transmitted by breastfeeding. The Statement refers to studies, which indicate that between 25%- 33% of infants born to HIV-positive mothers are also infected, and more than one third of these babies are infected through breastfeeding.

Yes: goats milk based infant formula contains lactose the same as any other normal formula. Use Colief® Infant Drops as for other formula. If you are feeding this frequently you may find it convenient to express off approx half a cup of fore milk* and store this in a refrigerator. Pour off a few teaspoons, warm it to body temp., add Colief® and give this to your baby before each feed. If the feeds are small (say 50ml each) you may be able to use only two drops of Colief® per feed.

You can give advice if you are a pharmacist. Otherwise, you should advise the customer to speak to a pharmacist or health professional if they ask anything more than what brands they can buy with their vouchers. It is illegal to promote infant formula to the public.

Because infant formula is a food, the laws and regulations governing foods apply to infant formula. Additional statutory and regulatory requirements apply to infant formula, which is often used as the sole source of nutrition by a vulnerable population during a critical period of growth and development. These additional requirements are found in section 412 of the FFDCA and FDA's implementing regulations in 21 CFR 106 and 107.