How to Feel About Formula Safety Right Now: 4 Pediatricians Weigh In

If you've felt more anxious than usual standing in the formula aisle lately, you're most likely not alone. In the past eight months, two different infant formula brands, ByHeart and Nara Organics, have been recalled after being linked to infant botulism, a rare but serious illness. It's an alarming headline to see as a new parent, especially on top of a formula aisle that already feels crowded with premium brands and claims like "closest to breast milk."

It's not the first time formula has felt like a source of stress for parents, either. Many families are still not far removed from the nationwide formula shortage in 2022. So when recalls make headlines again, it's fair to wonder how worried you should actually be, and whether it should change how you choose a formula for your baby.

As a certified lactation counselor and Babylist editor, I wanted expert answers to that question. So I asked four pediatricians about what actually matters when choosing an infant formula, where parents get tripped up and what advice they find themselves repeating again and again: Dr. Leslie Sude, associate professor of clinical pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine and pediatrician at Yale Medicine; Dr. Erik Shessler, pediatrician and associate medical director of Dartmouth Health Children's; Dr. Alexandra Gorab, a pediatrician with Rady Children's Health in Orange County, California; and Dr. Lauren Hughes, board-certified pediatrician, lactation consultant and clinical associate professor of pediatrics.

I also asked each expert one question I couldn't resist: Imagine your best friend calls you from the formula aisle, overwhelmed and worried about picking the "wrong" formula. What would you tell them?

Their answers were remarkably consistent. While every baby is different, the pediatricians agreed on one reassuring message: for most healthy babies, parents don't need to chase the "perfect" formula or panic over every headline. Instead, they recommend tuning out the marketing noise, staying informed about real safety issues like recalls and focusing on the fundamentals that actually matter, like finding a formula that fits your baby's needs, preparing it safely and working with your pediatrician when questions come up.

💡 What's Actually Going On With The Recent Formula Recalls

Two outbreaks, eight months apart

In November 2025, ByHeart recalled all lots of its Whole Nutrition Infant Formula after botulism cases were linked to the product. The FDA traced the contamination to Clostridium botulinum in a supplier's organic whole milk powder. In June 2026, Nara Organics recalled all lots of its Whole Milk Organic Infant Formula for the same reason. No deaths were reported in either outbreak.

So how worried about botulism contamination should you actually be?

For most healthy babies, Dr. Gorab says, "The overall risk of infant botulism from powdered infant formula is very low and infant botulism is very rare."

"The risk to any individual baby is low," says Dr. Hughes. "Companies know that if their product causes harm, they'll lose consumers' trust. It's in their best interest to follow these regulations, and formula is one area where manufacturers are held to especially strict standards."

Of course, you will want to pay attention to any recalls that are announced, but overall, she says, parents can feel confident that infant formula sold in the U.S. is subject to rigorous oversight and is very safe.

Does a brand's recall history matter?

Not necessarily, pediatricians say.

"A recall history is not a straightforward indicator of the safety or quality of a formula," Dr. Gorab says. "Parents should be cautious about using it as their primary focus when selecting a brand."

A recall can point to a manufacturing problem, she explains, but it can also show that a company's testing and quality control systems are working as intended. Because powdered infant formula isn't sterile, what matters more is whether a manufacturer has strong safety controls in place, whether powdered formula is appropriate for your baby's age and health and whether the company meets FDA inspection requirements.

For Dr. Hughes, the bigger question is how a company responds if something does go wrong.

"If the company immediately gave notice, issued a recall, apologized and did everything they could to correct the error, I would most likely feel just fine using that product," she says. "A company with a swift and decisive response—one that takes ownership—is one I'll trust more to help make sure it doesn't happen again."

💡 There Isn't One "Best" Infant Formula

Even with recalls making headlines, pediatricians say the fundamentals of choosing a formula haven't changed. The overwhelming response from pediatricians I talked to was that there isn't a specific formula that is best for every baby and family. That's why, when we choose the best formulas for our guide, it's based on factors like ingredients and what your baby needs. Here's why:

All infant formulas meet the same nutritional standards

It's easy to assume that a higher price tag or premium label means one formula is nutritionally better—maybe even safer—than another. But according to the pediatricians we spoke with, that's rarely the case.

"There are few differences between the formulas," Dr. Sude says. "They all meet the nutritional requirements set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While the FDA doesn't "approve" infant formulas before they're sold, it does set strict nutritional and safety requirements that manufacturers must meet before marketing them in the United States.

That means most healthy, full-term babies do well on a standard iron-fortified cow's milk formula.

For most families, the decision doesn't need to come down to finding a "perfect" formula. Instead, pediatricians recommend choosing a nutritionally complete formula that's easy to find, fits your family's budget and works well for your baby.

The "best" formula is the one that fits your baby's needs and your family's life

Once you know that all infant formulas sold in the US meet the same nutritional standards, the question becomes less "Which formula is the best?" and more "Which formula is the best fit for my baby and my family?"

"There is no single 'best' formula for every infant and family," says Dr. Gorab. "The best formula is one that is nutritionally complete, safe, accessible and well-tolerated by their baby."

Experts also say practical considerations matter more than many parents realize. Dr. Sude emphasizes that "choosing a formula that is easy to obtain [and] is affordable long-term is the best option," says.

In other words, the "best" formula isn't necessarily the newest, most expensive or the one making the boldest claims. It's the one that meets your baby's nutritional needs, fits your family's budget and is readily available when it's time to restock.

💡 Don't Let Marketing Alone Make the Decision for You

Premium doesn't necessarily mean better

Today's formula aisle offers more choices than ever before, from long-established brands to newer options with premium ingredients, organic certification or goat milk protein. If you see words like "organic," "premium" or "closest to breast milk" on the label, it's natural to wonder whether that formula is necessarily better for your baby. Pediatricians say it's easy to overemphasize those differences and lose sight of what matters most.

"While some of these features may matter to individual families, I would focus more on the fundamentals: Is the formula safe? Is it nutritionally appropriate? Is their baby growing well and feeding comfortably?" Dr. Gorab says.

Dr. Hughes says many parents come into the formula aisle feeling a lot of pressure to find the right option: "[They’re] worried about making sure their kids have the best, when there is no best.”

Some families prioritize features like organic ingredients or goat's milk protein, and those preferences are perfectly reasonable. But pediatricians say those features alone shouldn't determine your choice, since they don't automatically make one formula healthier or more nutritionally complete than another for most healthy babies. 

Focus on the fundamentals

When comparing formulas, pediatricians encourage parents to ask a few practical questions instead of getting caught up in every marketing claim.

• Does your baby tolerate it well?

• Can you consistently find it in stock?

• Does it fit your family's budget?

Those practical considerations may not be the flashiest selling points on the shelf, but they're often the ones that matter most in everyday life.

Does organic formula mean fewer pesticides or chemicals?

Yes—but the differences are probably smaller than you might think.

"There is modest evidence that organic foods reduce dietary pesticide exposure, but limited evidence that this translates into measurable health benefits for infants," Dr. Gorab explains.

Dr. Hughes agrees. "There is a slightly smaller amount of residual pesticide in organic versus non-organic formula," she says. "However, due to the strict regulation standards for formula, the residue amounts found in non-organic formula are below all safety thresholds. So while yes, it does have reduced pesticides, it's a little bit less than a teeny amount."

She adds that studies haven't found differences in long-term health outcomes between babies who drink organic versus conventional formula.

Do newer, "premium" formula brands actually deliver on their claims? 

Many newer formula brands market themselves as having higher safety standards, premium ingredients or more rigorous testing than long-established brands. But according to pediatricians, there's no evidence that those claims translate into better health outcomes.

Dr. Gorab says, "All infant formulas sold in the U.S. must meet the same requirements under the Infant Formula Act, undergo annual FDA facility inspections and demonstrate that all ingredients are generally recognized as safe." She notes that formula is regulated as a food product, not a pharmaceutical. That means manufacturers must meet strict safety and nutritional standards, but they aren't required to prove health-related marketing claims the way medications are.

💡 Once You've Picked A Formula, Here's How to Ensure It’s Safe

Buy formula from trusted retailers

Where you buy formula matters. Pediatricians recommend purchasing from trusted retailers, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, big-box stores or directly from a manufacturer's website.

"When purchasing from a third-party seller, there is a higher chance for contamination or difficulty notifying customers of recalls. We do not recommend buying from other countries as they are not regulated by the FDA and shipping is more variable," Dr. Shessler explains.

The recent ByHeart and Nara recalls are also a good reminder to stay informed about formula safety. Check the FDA's recall notices, pay attention to communications from your baby's formula manufacturer and don't hesitate to ask your pediatrician if you have questions about a recalled product.

While recalls can understandably feel alarming, they're also a sign that safety monitoring systems are working to identify and remove potentially affected products from the market.

Prepare formula exactly as directed

Once you've chosen a formula, how you prepare it is just as important as which one you buy. Always follow the instructions on the label, use the scoop included with the formula and measure carefully.

"I think the most important thing is to mix it according to the instructions on that specific can," says Dr. Hughes. "Always put water in first and then the correct scoops using the scooper the can comes with."

She also cautions against watering down formula to make it last longer. "Infants have a delicate balance of electrolytes, and formula is made to match that balance."

Stay connected with your pediatrician

Your baby's feeding needs may change over time, which is why Dr. Shessler stresses that regular pediatric visits remain an important part of safe formula feeding.

Whether you have questions about your baby's growth, think they may need a specialized formula or simply want reassurance that things are going well, your pediatrician can help you make informed feeding decisions every step of the way.

💡 One last question: What would you tell a friend standing in the formula aisle?

We asked every pediatrician the same question: Imagine your best friend or sibling calls you from the formula aisle, overwhelmed and worried about picking the "wrong" formula. What do you tell them?

🔍 If you’re looking for more resources, here are a few other guides you might find helpful:

• How to Choose a Baby Formula

• How to Switch Baby Formula

• The Best Baby Formulas—Depending on What You Need

• The New Parent’s Guide to Combo Feeding With Breastfeeding and Formula 

• What to Do with Your Feeding Gear After the Formula Recall