Discard Formula That Has Been Sitting in Hot Apartment?

Updated on July 20, 2011
L.B. asks from New Rochelle, NY
9 answers

Hi, all,

I have several cases of 2 oz. bottles of similac. I was using them to supplement breastfeeding at first, but I stopped using them when breastfeeding started going more smoothly. I donated a bunch of cases to a shelter, but I kept some back, and they have been sitting in an un-airconditioned apartment. Are they still safe? They are far from their expiration date. I might use them very occasionally, or I might donate the rest, but I want to make sure they are safe. All my nonperishable food is in the same place, but I worry formula might be more delicate.

Thanks!

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D.T.

answers from Detroit on

If it was milk would you drink it?? I would throw it away, bacteria grows quickly. You do not want to potentially harm a little one by accidently donating formula that is bad and getting them very sick.

1 mom found this helpful

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L.K.

answers from Wausau on

When in doubt, throw it out. :-)

2 moms found this helpful
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K.S.

answers from Bloomington on

The cases should tell you want temp to "store at" Just like other things that say store at room temps not lower than such and such, and not higher than this #.

1 mom found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

I'm with HealthyMom, when it doubt throw it out.

If you wouldn't feed it to your child, then don't donate it for some else's who does not know of any potential danger.

Call Similac and ask, give the exp date, lot number and all info available on the cans. Even after talking to Similac, I'd probably trash it to be on the safe side.

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

.

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I.G.

answers from Seattle on

Assuming that these are unopened, sealed bottles of formula? I had a case as a backup, just in case, that was never used. If I remember correctly they do not need to be refrigerated and are good until the "best before" date printed on them. You can call the manufacturer if you're in doubt, but I would not throw them out.
Good luck!

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M.B.

answers from Rochester on

L.,
If your milk is in - pump. Don't use the formula. Formula is really not healthy for any baby. I'm sure people will tell you to dump it.

The artist in me says: save any glass bottles. They will be JUST the right size for packing solid foods that are pureed. And those little insulated packs that fit the bottles JUST RIGHT for transporting them.

That's about the only thing I would use a formula bottle for.

Human milk for human babies is the best way to go. Pediatricians who tell you differently are sadly misinformed by the - formula companies who pay them to tell you that.

And if you don't think that's the case, look into who gives major scholarship funding to the institutions that teach doctors. It's no secret the conflict of interest there.

Good luck,
M.

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N.D.

answers from New York on

If it's closed, it's really fine! Good luck!

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M.B.

answers from New York on

I think there's confusion about what kind of formula you're talking about. Are they sealed bottles of ready-to-use? If so, they're basically like jarred or canned goods. If they had been left in a hot car so that the formula itself had actually gotten HOT, I wouldn't use them (I don't drink water bottles that were left in the car because when the liquid gets really hot, it can cause some of the plastic chemicals to leach into the water), but they wouldn't have gotten to more than 90-something degrees, which should be fine.

Obviously, if you were talking about mixed formula, which is only good for an hour at room temp, you'd throw it out, but that's not what you're talking about.

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