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]
Quick Facts Product type, Owner ...
Similac Similac infant formula in a supermarket aisle |
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| Owner | Abbott Laboratories |
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| Country | United States |
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| Introduced | 1925; 99 years ago (1925) |
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| Related brands | |
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| Markets | Worldwide |
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| Previous owners | Moores & Ross Milk Company |
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| Tagline | Because of Science |
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- 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]
- Gain products like Gain, Gain Plus and Gain School we're included in the Similac line up.
- 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 actress sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff teamed 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 US, 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]
Premature
More information Preemie Product, Product Description ...
| Preemie Product |
Product Description |
Date |
| Similac NeoSure |
For babies who were born prematurely |
1994 |
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Newborn & Infants
More information Infant Product, Product Description ...
| Infant Product | Product Description | Date |
| Similac Soy Isomil | Soy-based infant formula | 1966 |
| Similac Organic | Certified USDA Organic formula | 2006 |
| Similac Alimentum | A supplemental beverage for children with severe food allergies, sensitivity to intact protein, protein maldigestion, or fat malabsorption | - |
| Similac Sensitive | Designed for fussiness and gas due to lactose sensitivity, or mild spit-up | - |
| Similac For Spit-Up | Milk-based formula with added rice starch to help reduce frequent spit-up | - |
| Similac Total Comfort | For discomfort due to persistent feeding issues | - |
| Similac For Supplementation | Formula for breastfeeding mothers who choose to introduce formula | 2013 |
| Similac Advance NON-GMO | Milk-based, iron-fortified infant formula with no genetically engineered organisms. | 2015 |
| Similac Pro-Advance | Formula with 2’-FL HMO designed to help strengthen a baby’s immune system to be more like the breastfed infant’s | 2016 |
| Similac Pro-Sensitive | Formula 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 Formula | Formula starting with fresh milk from grass-fed cows that has no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. | 2016-09-26 |
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Toddlers
More information Toddler Product, Product Description ...
| Toddler Product | Product Description | Date |
| Go & Grow by Similac Sensitive | Suitable for children with lactose sensitivity | - |
| Go & Grow by Similac NON-GMO | A milk-based drink for toddlers 12–24 months old with no GMOs. | 2015 |
| Go & Grow by Similac Food Mix-Ins | Provides nutrients to support growth and development in a toddler's food. | 2016 |
| Pure Bliss by Similac Toddler Drink | Toddler drink starting with fresh milk from grass-fed cows that has no artificial growth hormones or antibiotics. | 2016-09-26 |
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For Mothers
More information Mother Product, Product Description ...
| Mother Product | Product Description | Date |
| Similac Breastfeeding Supplement | Breastfeeding supplements | 2014 |
| Similac Prenatal Vitamin | Prenatal vitamins | - |
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Each formula contains various ingredients but most have OptiGRO,[24] a mixture containing
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. ...
