Formula

Local WIC Providers

The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that breastfeeding is uniquely superior for feeding infants and should be continued for the first year or as long as the mother and infant desire. When breastfeeding is contraindicated or a mother chooses not to breastfeed, iron-fortified infant formula is the appropriate substitute (1).

The following types of formula and medical foods are available through the Missouri WIC program:

Primary Contract Infant Formula – milk or soy-based infant formula issued to most healthy infants as a result of a contract awarded to a specific manufacturer through a competitive bidding process. The current primary contract infant formulas are Mead Johnson products and are pictured below:

Non-contract Infant Formula – milk or soy-based infant formula other than the primary contract infant formula. Issuance requires medical documentation.

Exempt Infant Formula – formula that is represented and labeled for use by infants who have inborn errors of metabolism or low birth weight, or who otherwise have unusual medical or dietary problems. Issuance requires medical documentation.

Medical Food – a medical food is prescribed by a physician when a patient has special nutrient needs in order to manage a disease or health condition, and the patient is under the physician’s ongoing care. The label must clearly state that the product is intended to be used to manage a specific medical disorder or condition. Issuance requires medical documentation.

Links

Cathy Breedon Handouts
Handouts from Cathy Breedon workshops including “Choosing Appropriate Infant Milks and Formulas.”

WIC Formula Database
Includes general information on WIC eligible infant formula, exempt infant formulas, and WIC eligible medical foods. Links to manufacturers are provided. The database does not indicate which formulas are approved for Missouri WIC. Formulas in the database that are not listed in the Missouri WIC Program WIC Approved Formula and Food Reference Materials require state approval for issuance.

Mead Johnson Healthcare Professional Resource Center
Product information for contract formulas and other Mead Johnson products.

Missouri WIC Program WIC Approved Formula and Food Reference
Includes Formula Reference Sheet, Special Food Package Codes, Food Package Codes, Individual Food Item Codes for “OTH” Food Packages, and WIC Approved Specialty Milk Food Package Code Listings.

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics, Policy Statement, February 2005