Department Resources

Infant Nutrition

Good nutrition during the first 2 years of life is vital for healthy growth and development. Starting good nutrition practices early can help children develop healthy dietary patterns.

Breastfeeding

Breast milk is a great source of nutrition for your baby. It can also reduce the risk for certain health conditions for both infants and mothers.

Find information from the CDC and the Virginia Department of Health.

Following recommended storage and preparation techniques can maintain the safety and quality of expressed breast milk for the baby’s health. Learn more about Proper Storage and Preparation of Breast Milk.

Find information and support

If you are interested in starting to breastfeed and/or increasing your breastmilk production, speak with a breastfeeding expert. Your health care provider can provide a referral or you can search for a lactation consultant from the United States Lactation Consultant Association or the International Lactation Consultant Association.

The CDC, WIC, and La Leche League offers support for those who are breastfeeding as well as those who want to re-lactate.

Additional support and information is available in Virginia from:

Virginia Department of Health
Virginia Breastfeeding Coalition
Inova Breastfeeding and Lactation Medicine: 571-200-1839
Children’s Hospital of Richmond Lactation Clinic: 804-828-CHOR (2467)
Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters Breastfeeding Medicine: 757-668-6984
University of Virginia Breastfeeding Medicine Clinic: 434-924-0000

Find more resources:

CDC: Breastfeeding
It's Only Natural, breastfeeding information for African-American women
National Women's Health and Breastfeeding Helpline: 1-800-994-9662 (Monday – Friday, 9 am – 6 pm ET)

August 8, 2024: Perrigo Issues Voluntary Recall of One Batch of Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder Due to Elevated Levels of Vitamin D.

Perrigo Company is issuing a voluntary recall of store brand Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder due to levels of Vitamin D above the maximum level permitted. The recalled product was shipped to CVS in TX, FL, CA, SC, VA, IN, TN, NJ, MI, PA, RI, MO and H-E-B Grocery Company, LP in TX.

Product shipped to CVS beginning February 6, 2024, being recalled:

T11LMYC – USE BY 11NOV2025 (Material: 975261, UPC: 050428318034)

Product shipped to H-E-B Grocery Company, LP beginning February 2, 2024, being recalled:

T11LMXC – USE BY 11NOV2025 (Material: 788362, UPC: 041220164578)
T09LMXC – USE BY 09NOV2025 (Material: 788362, UPC: 041220164578)

No other lot codes are impacted by this recall.

For the vast majority of infants, short-term consumption of the affected lot codes is unlikely to cause adverse health implications. In a small subset of physiologically vulnerable infants (e.g., impaired renal function), there is the potential that consumption of the recalled product could result in health complications. Parents and caregivers who may have purchased the product should look for the lot codes above with “use by” dates, which can be found on the bottom of the package and should contact their health care provider if they have any concerns.

See photos and additional details from the U.S. FDA

December 30: Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products.

On December 30, 2023, Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition announced a voluntarily recall of select batches of 12.6 and 19.8 oz. cans of Nutramigen powder infant formula due to possible Conobacter sakazkii contamination. To date, no illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall, and it is likely most of the product that was distributed in the U.S. has already been consumed. Consumers, including WIC participants, who have affected product should stop using it and throw it away or contact Reckitt/Mead Johnson at 866-534-9986 or consumer.relations@rb.com.

The following recalled product batch codes and can size associated with each batch were distributed in the U.S.:

ZL3FHG (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FMH (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FPE (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FQD (12.6 oz cans)
ZL3FRW (19.8 oz cans)
ZL3FXJ (12.6 oz cans)

The products have a UPC Code of 300871239418 or 300871239456 and “Use By Date” of “1 Jan 2025”.

For more information about the recall, see Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products.

Formula Safety

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, here are some steps you can take to ensure the safety of your infant’s formula:

Learn more about choosing an infant formula that’s safe for your baby.
Do not feed your baby cow’s milk or other non-dairy milks until 1 year old, unless you’ve talked to your child’s pediatrician.
Don’t make homemade infant formula or water down formula; there are serious health and safety concerns.
Do not buy formula online that comes from outside the U.S., which could be counterfeit, have a fake label or a wrong use-by date.
Prepare and store infant formula according to the manufacturer’s instructions; do not water down formula.
Properly clean, sanitize and store infant feeding items.
Always wash your hands when handling formula and feeding items.
Talk to your pediatrician about introducing complementary foods by 6 months (no earlier than 4 months). Visit MyPlate to learn more.

Tips if your formula is hard to find:

Call a store to check on the stock or check the online inventory before going to purchase formula.
Check smaller markets and drug stores when the big box stores and supermarkets are out.
Call your OBGYN or pediatrician to see if they have in-office samples or can suggest a formula that is nutritionally similar to your infant’s typical formula that may be available in stores.
Try a different formula if your baby is not on a restricted diet and has no major health problems. If you are a WIC participant, see the WIC page for more information.
If you choose to shop online, purchase only from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites. You may not know what you’re actually getting, and there is little or no control over pricing.
You can also consider buying formula that's made outside of the United States in U.S. stores. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed these formula companies to market certain products in the U.S. Find Resources for Parents and Caregivers on Imported Infant Formula from the FDA.
Purchase only a 10-14-day supply each time. It appears unlikely that the supply is going to run out, and hoarding will only make shortages worse.

Do not make homemade infant formula or water down formula

This can be dangerous for your baby.

Adding extra water to infant formula to stretch it out is not safe and can put the infant at nutritional risk and lead to serious health problems. Always follow the instructions on the formula.

Recipes for homemade formulas may be circulating on the internet, but they are NOT SAFE. Even if only safe ingredients are used, these formulas will not provide adequate nutrition. Learn more about these concerns from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Only medical professionals are qualified to provide advice on acceptable alternatives to formulas that may currently be difficult to find. Please talk with your pediatrician about safe and appropriate feeding alternatives for your child if needed.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) aims to improve the health of pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants, and children under five years of age. Participants must meet categorical, income, residential and nutrition risk eligibility requirements.

Learn more about WIC Services

Health Department

Health Department Alert:

Department Resources

Infant Nutrition

Breastfeeding

Find information and support

Infant Formula

Infant Formula Recalls

August 8, 2024: Perrigo Issues Voluntary Recall of One Batch of Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder Due to Elevated Levels of Vitamin D.

December 30: Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products.

Formula Safety

Do not make homemade infant formula or water down formula

Additional Resources

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

Health Department

Health Department Alert:

Department Resources

Infant Nutrition

Breastfeeding

Find information and support

Infant Formula

Infant Formula Recalls

Formula Recalls — 2024

August 8, 2024: Perrigo Issues Voluntary Recall of One Batch of Premium Infant Formula with Iron Milk-Based Powder Due to Elevated Levels of Vitamin D.

December 30: Reckitt/Mead Johnson Nutrition Voluntarily Recalls Certain Nutramigen Hypoallergenic Powdered Infant Formula Products.

Formula Safety

Do not make homemade infant formula or water down formula

Additional Resources

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax