Similac

Similac (for "similar to lactation") is a brand of infant formula that was developed by Alfred Bosworth of Tufts University and marketed by Abbott Laboratories.[1] It was first released in the late 1920s, and then reformulated and concentrated in 1951. Today, Similac is sold in 96 countries worldwide.[2]

Similac
Similac infant formula in a supermarket aisle
Product type
OwnerAbbott Laboratories
CountryUnited States
Introduced1925 (1925)
Related brands
  • Pure Bliss
  • Go & Grow
MarketsWorldwide
Previous ownersMoores & Ross Milk Company
TaglineBecause of Science
Website

History
  • 1903 - Harry C. Moores and Stanley M. Ross launch the Moores & Ross Milk Company which specialized on bottling milk for home delivery.[3]
  • 1925 - Alfred Bosworth creates an infant formula called “Franklin Infant Food”, later renamed to Similac.[4]
  • 1928 - Company renames itself to "M &R Diatetic Laboratories", sells off its regular milk operations to Borden and focuses on infant milk.
  • 1950 - Company introduces "Similac Concentrated Liquid" in the USA, a non-powder infant formula.
  • 1959 - Company launches "Similac with Iron", an iron-fortified infant formula.
  • 1961 - Similac opens a new plant in The Netherlands, its first factory outside of the US
  • 1962 - Similac begins offering "Similac PM 60/40", for babies with specific medical conditions.
  • 1964 - Company merges with Abbott Laboratories
  • 1966 - Similac introduces "Isomil", a soy-based formula.
  • 1970 - Similac arrives in Israel[5]
  • 1994 - Similac launches "NeoCare", a formula tailored to premature babies. Later renamed to "Similac NeoSure".
  • 1999 - Similac creates "Similac with Iron Ready to Feed" formula bottle.
  • 2000 - Similac starts offering "Human Milk Fortifier".
  • 2002 - Similac introduces "Similac Advance with Iron", an infant formula with DHA and ARA.
  • 2006 - Similac launches "Similac Organic", a certified USDA organic infant formula.
  • 2011 - Simiilac launches "Similac Advance Plus", "Similac LeMehadrin" and "Similac Gentle" (lactose-free formula).[5]
  • 2013
    • Similac begins offering "Similac Human Milk Fortifier Concentrated Liquid" for preterm babies in NICUs.
    • Similac launches a formula designed for breastfeeding moms who choose to supplement.
    • Similac launches "The Baby Journal" app, Diaper Decoder and Ecodu developmental kits[5]
  • 2014 - Similac promotes "Similac Breastfeeding Supplement" for nursing mothers[6]
  • 2015
    • Similac brings forward "Similac Advance NON-GMO", a formula with ingredients not genetically engineered.[7][8]
    • Similac delivers a "big hit"[9] commercial,[10][11][12] whereby Hilary and Haylie Duff teamed up with Similac "to help raise awareness against mom-on-mom bullying"[13][14]
  • 2016
    • Similac introduces "Go & Grow by Similac Food Mix-Ins", a supplement designed to mix into the food of toddlers.[15][16]
    • Similac begins offering "Pure Bliss by Similac", a formula starting with fresh milk from grass-fed cows that has no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics
    • Similac launches "Similac Pro-Advance" and "Similac Pro-Sensitive", formulas containing 2’-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide
  • 2022
    • By February 2022, Abbott had initiated a voluntary recall of some Similac and Alimentum powdered infant formula (PIF) after finding evidence of Cronobacter sakazakii in some areas of Abbott's Sturgis, Michigan facility,[17] known for manufacturing Similac, the leading PIF brand.[18] In the United States, about 90% of the multibillion-dollar PIF market is controlled by only four companies, including Abbott,[18] and the Sturgis facility is Abbott's largest.[18] Most of Abbott's powdered formula was produced there—mainly under the Similac brand name—representing 40% of the US market.[19] The Office of the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a May 2022 update on the recall of certain Similac, Alimentum and EleCare products as they investigate four cases of hospitalized infants involving Cronobacter sakazakii infection following the infants' consumption of PIF produced in Sturgis plant.[20] Abbott shut down the Sturgis plant, out of an abundance of caution. There is no evidence that the infants' infections were caused by the powdered formula.[21] The closure of the Sturgis plant for five months exacerbated the 2022 United States infant formula shortage which peaked in May.[22] As of June 2022, the FDA was unable to prove a causal relationship between the deaths of nine infants who had consumed Abbott's PIF and Abbott products.[23] The plant reopened in June.[18]

Product Lineup

Premature

Preemie Product Product Description Date
Similac NeoSure For babies who were born prematurely 1994

Newborn & Infants

Infant ProductProduct DescriptionDate
Similac Soy IsomilSoy-based infant formula.1966
Similac OrganicCertified USDA Organic formula2006
Similac AlimentumA supplemental beverage for children with severe food allergies, sensitivity to intact protein, protein maldigestion, or fat malabsorption-
Similac SensitiveDesigned for fussiness and gas due to lactose sensitivity, or mild spit-up.-
Similac For Spit-UpMilk-based formula with added rice starch to help reduce frequent spit up.-
Similac Total ComfortFor discomfort due to persistent feeding issues.-
Similac For SupplementationFormula for breastfeeding moms who choose to introduce formula.2013
Similac Advance NON-GMOMilk-based, iron-fortified infant formula with no genetically engineered organisms.2015
Similac Pro-AdvanceFormula with 2’-FL HMO designed to help strengthen a baby’s immune system to be more like the breastfed infant’s.2016
Similac Pro-SensitiveFormula containing 2’-FL Human Milk Oligosaccharide (HMO) and helping with fussiness, gas, or mild spit-up due to lactose sensitivity.2016
Pure Bliss by Similac Infant FormulaFormula starting with fresh milk from grass-fed cows that has no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics.2016-09-26

Toddlers

Toddler ProductProduct DescriptionDate
Go & Grow by Similac SensitiveSuitable for children with lactose sensitivity.-
Go & Grow by Similac NON-GMOA milk-based drink for toddlers 12–24 months old with no GMOs.2015
Go & Grow by Similac Food Mix-InsProvides nutrients to support growth and development in a toddler's food.2016
Pure Bliss by Similac Toddler DrinkToddler drink starting with fresh milk from grass-fed cows that has no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics.2016-09-26

For Mothers

Mother ProductProduct DescriptionDate
Similac Breastfeeding SupplementBreastfeeding supplements2014
Similac Prenatal VitaminPrenatal vitamins-

Ingredients

Each formula contains various ingredients but most have OptiGRO,[24] a mixture containing

References
  1. Stacey, James E.; Sturdivant, Frederick D. (1994). The Corporate social challenge. that same year one of the founders, Stanley Ross, met Alfred Bosworth, a famous milk chemist. ... Ross began to produce a formula for Bosworth called Similac. ...
  2. "Similac. Because of Science" (PDF). Super Brands. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. "Ross Laboratories - Ohio History Central". Ohio History Central. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  4. "Abbott Nutrition's History". Nutrition News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  5. "Similac. Because of Science" (PDF). Super Brands. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. "Similac Launches Breastfeeding Supplement for Nursing Mothers - MPR". MPR. July 24, 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  7. Strom, Stephanie (May 25, 2015). "Similac Advance Infant Formula to Be Offered G.M.O.-Free". New York Times. New York Times. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  8. "Similac Advance Baby Formula Maker To Release GMO-Free Version". ABC 7. May 26, 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  9. Cullers, Rebecca. "Similac Has a Big Hit With One of the Most Honest Ads Ever About Parenting". Adweek. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  10. "Judgy moms and dads face off in hit ad". CNN. CNN. January 28, 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  11. Wechsler, Pat (February 1, 2015). "How a baby formula maker scored a viral hit [VIDEO]". Fortune. Fortune. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  12. Klobucher, Derek. "How New Marketing is Helping Solve an Industry's Image Problem [VIDEO]". Forbes. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  13. Movsesian, AdrinaRose. "Hilary & Haylie Duff Have a Message for Judgmental Moms". First to Know. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  14. Toomleey, Alyssa (August 7, 2015). "Hilary Duff Reveals She Was Judged After She Stopped Breastfeeding Luca, Talks Mommy Wars With Sister Haylie". E News. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  15. "A Clever Way to Add Nutrition to Your Toddler's Favorite Foods: Go & Grow by Similac® Food Mix-Ins™". PR Newswire. May 9, 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  16. Acosta, Gina (May 9, 2016). "Similac introduces first-ever mix-ins for toddler foods". DSN. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  17. "Similac and Alimentum Powder Formulas". Abbott Recall Canada. February 2022. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  18. Miranda, Shauneen (10 July 2022). "Abbott reopens Michigan baby formula plant after flooding". NPR. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  19. Sharp, Sonja (13 May 2022). "As baby formula shortage worsens, families take desperate steps". Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  20. Office of the Commissioner (3 June 2022). "Powdered Infant Formula Recall: What to Know". United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  21. Enrich, David (6 September 2022). "How Abbott Kept Sick Babies From Becoming a Scandal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  22. Barry, Eloise (May 13, 2022). "Why It's So Hard to Find Baby Formula in the U.S. Right Now". Time. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  23. Reiley, Laura. "New documents show more claims of baby formula illness and death". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 6 September 2022.
  24. "OptiGRO™ – Nutrition Beyond DHA Alone". Similac. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
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