Baby Formula Recall: Abbott Issues Voluntary Withdrawal in 6 States

Abbott Nutrition has issued a voluntary recall of select batches of Similac baby formula distributed across six states, the company and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on Monday. The recall affects specific lot numbers of Similac Pro-Advance and Similac Pro-Sensitive powder formulas due to potential contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacteria that can cause serious illness in infants.

Which Products Are Affected

The recall covers Similac Pro-Advance powder formula in 20.1-ounce and 30.8-ounce containers, as well as Similac Pro-Sensitive powder formula in the same sizes. Only products with specific lot numbers manufactured between February 15 and March 22, 2026, at Abbott's Sturgis, Michigan facility are included.

To check whether your formula is affected, look at the bottom of the container for the lot number. Affected lot numbers begin with the digits 37 through 39 and include the code SH in the sequence. A complete list of affected lot numbers is available on Abbott's recall website and the FDA's recall page.

Which States Are Affected

The recall covers products distributed in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. However, Abbott notes that individual consumers may have purchased affected products online and had them shipped to other states. If you purchased Similac powder formula from an online retailer in the past two months, you should check your lot numbers regardless of your location.

What Parents Should Do Right Now

If you have affected formula at home, stop using it immediately. Do not feed it to your infant. You can return it to the store where you purchased it for a full refund, or contact Abbott directly at 1-800-986-8540 for a replacement or refund.

If your baby has consumed formula from an affected lot and is showing symptoms such as fever, poor feeding, irritability, or lethargy, contact your pediatrician immediately. Cronobacter infections, while rare, can be serious in newborns and infants under two months of age.

Finding Replacement Formula

With this recall removing product from shelves, parents may face difficulty finding replacement formula. Several options are available. Generic store-brand formulas from Walmart (Parent's Choice), Target (Up and Up), and Costco (Kirkland Signature) are nutritionally equivalent to Similac and are manufactured by Perrigo, a separate company not affected by this recall.

WIC recipients in the six affected states can contact their local WIC office for assistance in obtaining alternative formula brands. Most state WIC programs have emergency provisions that allow brand substitutions during recall events.

Abbott's Response

Abbott emphasized in its statement that no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall and that the withdrawal is precautionary. The company said it detected the potential for contamination during routine quality testing and chose to issue the recall out of an abundance of caution.

This is not the first time Abbott's Sturgis facility has been at the center of a formula recall. In 2022, a major recall and subsequent factory shutdown contributed to a nationwide formula shortage that lasted months. Abbott says it has since invested over $500 million in upgrading the facility's quality control systems.

How to Stay Informed

Parents can sign up for FDA recall alerts at fda.gov/safety/recalls to receive notifications about future food safety issues. Additionally, the FDA's MedWatch program accepts reports of adverse events related to infant formula, which helps the agency identify potential problems more quickly.