Abbott Launches First Ready-to-Feed Infant Formula Made With Whole Milk in the U.S.
核心洞察
Abbott (搜索) has launched Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk (搜索), the first and only commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid infant formula made with whole milk in the United States.
The formula combines whole milk with an exclusive blend of five human milk oligosaccharides (搜索) (HMOs) to support immune system, brain development, and digestive health.
Abbott (搜索) is pricing the new ready-to-feed formula at a per-feeding cost comparable to its Similac 360 Total Care powdered formulas to improve accessibility.
Abbott (搜索) has announced the launch of Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk (搜索), the first and only commercially sterile, ready-to-feed liquid infant formula made with whole milk in the United States. The nation's largest formula manufacturer unveiled the product Monday, offering parents a new option that combines whole milk with an exclusive blend of five human milk oligosaccharides (搜索) (HMOs), prebiotics structurally identical to five of those found in breast milk.
"Parents have been asking for more whole milk options, and we wanted to give them something they couldn't get anywhere else," said Misha Pardubicka-Jenkins, Abbott (搜索)'s U.S. vice president and general manager for pediatric nutrition. "We decided on a liquid-only approach to give families the benefits of whole milk, the convenience of a formula that's ready when baby is, and the reassurance that comes with a commercially sterile liquid formula."
Infant formulas made with whole milk have become a popular choice because they provide a fat blend that more closely resembles the fats found in breast milk. Similac 360 Total Care Made With Whole Milk (搜索) is described by Abbott (搜索) as Similac's closest formula to breast milk, designed to help support a baby's immune system, brain development, and digestive health. The formula is also non-GMO and does not contain artificial growth hormones, corn syrup, or palm olein oil.
A Liquid-Only Approach to Safety and Convenience
Abbott (搜索) made the decision to bring this new formula to American families in a commercially sterile, liquid offering only. Unlike powdered formula, ready-to-feed liquid formula requires no preparation; parents can simply open and feed, whether at home, while traveling, or during overnight feedings.
"As a pediatrician, I've spent decades helping parents navigate infant feeding, so I know how meaningful it is to find a formula option parents feel confident choosing," said Karyn Wulf, M.D., pediatrician and senior medical director in Abbott (搜索)'s nutrition division. "All Similac formulas start with high-quality ingredients that provide the essential nutrition babies need to grow and develop. Ready-to-feed infant formulas offer parents convenience because they require no mixing and the reassurance that comes with a commercially sterile liquid."
Both liquid and powdered infant formulas sold in the U.S. meet strict nutrition standards and are considered very safe for babies. However, while both undergo steps in manufacturing to eliminate potentially harmful microorganisms, liquid infant formula in ready-to-feed bottles undergoes an additional sterility step to become commercially sterile. This sterilization step helps eliminate spores of microorganisms, including Clostridium spores that can cause infant botulism (搜索), according to Abbott (搜索).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that extra precautions should be taken to make sure powdered formula is properly prepared for infants who are less than two months old, born premature, or have weakened immune systems, and that parents can consider the use of sterile liquid formula in these populations.
Context of Recent Formula Safety Concerns
While illness outbreaks from manufactured infant formulas are rare, recent years have seen multiple powder infant formula recalls related to contamination concerns from microorganisms. In 2022, Abbott (搜索) recalled several infant formulas after four infants became sick with Cronobacter (搜索) infections whose parents said they consumed Abbott formula made at the company's facility in Sturgis, Michigan. Two of those infants died, according to the FDA.
In a 2022 statement, Abbott (搜索) said the outbreak investigation "did not find any definitive link between the company's products and illnesses in children. No retained samples of recalled products tested positive for Cronobacter (搜索). And, in all four cases, unopened containers of formula in the infant homes tested negative for Cronobacter skazakii."
More recently, in 2025 and 2026, there have been two infant botulism (搜索) outbreaks linked to organic whole-milk infant powdered formula made by Nara Organics and ByHeart — the first known botulism outbreaks ever linked to infant formula in the U.S., according to the FDA. The CDC has declared both outbreaks over. Testing during the outbreak investigations found both outbreaks linked to organic whole milk supplied by Organic West Milk that was spray-dried by Dairy Farmers of America. The FDA continues to investigate the root cause of botulism linked to these products.
Pricing and Market Positioning
Ready-to-feed infant formula is often more costly than powdered forms. Abbott (搜索) said it is making the price-per-feed of the 8- and 32-fluid-ounce bottles of its new ready-to-feed formula made with whole milk more comparable to the price-per-feed of its other Similac 360 powdered infant formulas.
"And through launch, we'll make it accessible to more families by offering it at powder-like prices," Pardubicka-Jenkins said.
Expert Perspective on Whole-Milk Formulas
There are now several formulas available in the U.S. that use whole milk. "Historically, most commercial infant formulas have used a skim animal milk as their protein-base and a vegetable oil blend rich in essential fatty acids for their fat content," Dr. Ari Brown, a board-certified pediatrician based in Austin, Texas and author of Baby 411, told ABC News.
Brown noted that whole animal milk contains an ingredient called MFGM (milk fat globule membrane), which is found in human and other animal milks. "While it is not clear that whole milk-based formulas (or other premium ingredients) are truly superior, formula manufacturers try to meet the demand. Future studies are certainly needed to see if there are true benefits for the additional cost," Brown said.
Brown also emphasized that even infant formulas using whole animal milk still add vegetable oil blends to match the essential fatty acids found in breast milk. "It's not either/or for the fat content; it's both," she said.
Ali Hard, director of public policy for the nonprofit National WIC Association, told ABC News that "no evidence suggests a nutritional benefit to infant formula made with whole milk as compared to other fat sources," while adding that the WIC program "provides education and support for breastfeeding and all forms of infant feeding."
Parents are advised to talk to their pediatrician when deciding what formula is right for their baby or if they are experiencing any feeding concerns.