Breastfeeding Support During an Infant Formula Recall

Breastfeeding is a safe infant feeding option.
Breastfeeding helps protects infants from foodborne illness and infections. Cronobacter and Salmonella illnesses have been linked to formula use. Families may have concerns about formula safety and want to maintain or increase their milk supply.

Reach out to a WIC breastfeeding peer counselor or WIC breastfeeding specialist at your local WIC clinic for breastfeeding information and support. Find your clinic’s contact information using the Minnesota WIC Clinic Directory.

Maintaining and increasing human milk supply is important, particularly when infant formula availability may be limited.
• If you are combining breastfeeding and infant formula feeding, breastfeeding, pumping and expressing milk more often can increase milk supply and reduce the need for infant formula. The more milk that is removed, the more milk will be produced. Find information about increasing milk supply:
  • Increasing Low Milk Supply
  • Low Milk Supply

• If you were thinking about weaning from breastfeeding, consider waiting to avoid introducing or increasing formula use.

• If you already stopped breastfeeding, a lactation consultant can help you bring back your milk supply or help you start producing milk even if baby wasn't initially breastfed.

Supporting Families with Relactation

Human milk is one of the best things for babies. Visit USDA WIC Breastfeeding to learn more.

Donor Milk/Milk Sharing
• The FDA suggests you consult with your baby’s health care provider when deciding to give donor human milk to your infant and only use screened donor human milk.

• If you have an oversupply of human milk, consider donating extra milk to an area milk bank. Minnesota Milk Bank for Babies has more information.