As parents across the country try to find ways to adapt to the nation’s formula shortage, some seem to wonder if serving expired baby formula to their babies. Although it’s a fair question to ask, especially if your baby has a particular reference or requires specific dietary needs, there are particular facts you need to know about using expired baby formula products. Let’s take a closer look at a few of them.
Can Baby Formula Expire?
Yes, baby formula has an expiration date and should not be used past that date [1]. This is mainly because once the it has expired, its nutritional value may change, and it can no longer provide your baby with the necessary nutrients. Additionally, after a certain amount of time, harmful bacteria can start to form in the formula making it unsafe for use.
Also, future batches of formula should be consumed within two hours if you prepare them in advance and store them at room temperature. If not, you run the danger of giving your child unsafe infant formula.
Meanwhile, storing the formula properly inside the fridge for 24 hours is highly advisable to prevent bacterial growth. You may also consider reheating it within that span if needed.
How to Avoid Accidentally Using Expired Baby Formula
Check for Any Type of Unusual Smell
The first thing you need to do when checking the expiration date of the baby formula is to give it a smell. The formula that has passed its expiration date will usually have an unusual and unpleasant odor. If you detect strange smells, discard the expired formula immediately, as it can no longer provide your baby with the necessary nutrients.
The Appearance of the Can
Another factor you need to consider is the overall look or shape of the can. In most cases of bacterial growth, the outside of the can will look rusty or discolored. If you notice these signs, it’s time to discard the formula and get a new one as soon as possible.
You’ll also notice bacteria growing at the rims, with its lid showing fuzzy or greenish-brown growth. There are also times when liquid formula may swell or have visible indentations.
Check the Expiry Date
Lastly, checking the expiry date when buying formula milk is highly advisable. It’s easy to overlook the printed expiration date, especially when buying in bulk. So, checking the details printed on the unopened formula is crucial to ensure it is within the expiration date.
When checking the formula expiration date, you need to look at the fine print that may indicate the words ” the best before use by” date or “exp. date.” It should also be best to purchase powdered formula with clear prints to ensure you’re not buying an outdated formula.
How to Handle Open Formula Container with Care
Consume the Baby Formula Immediately
Remember that baby formula can quickly spoil when left out in an area at room temperature. So, you need to use the baby formula within 2 hours of preparing it or an hour from when you start feeding. Meanwhile, if you have yet to use the formula within 2 hours, it’s best to put it back in the refrigerator before the baby formula expires.
Throw Away Any Leftover Formula Milk After Feeding
Get rid of any leftover formula in the bottle after you feed your baby. Keep in mind that bacteria may grow on your baby’s infant formula once it combines with their saliva. So, it’s best to clean and sanitize their baby bottle before each use.
Ensure That Any Unopened Formula is Stored Properly
Store any unopened baby formula in a cool and dry place. Never attempt to store it to prevent it from getting exposed to excessive humidity. You need to do the same with your opened baby formula.
Always Check the Expiration Date
Most mixed baby formula products need to be consumed within 30 days of opening them [2]. So, once you open the baby formula container, grab a pen and indicate the date on the lid so you will remember.
Does Baby Formula Expire if Unopened?
Remember that any consumable product can expire, especially once it’s been opened. Even a sealed baby formula has an expiration printed to ensure that your baby gets a sufficient amount of every nutritional supplement for their growth.
If you look at it, each powdered baby formula you’ll see in the store has an expiry date more than a year away. That’s why many families often store more than one baby formula to ensure they won’t run out.
Generally, it’s best to use baby formula products within 30 days after opening the container. Doing so prevents bacteria from contaminating your baby’s infant formula.
What to Do with Expired Prepared Formula?
Use it as Fertilizer
Having an expired baby formula doesn’t mean your money is entirely wasted. You can use it for other things, which can still benefit you. One way to use your expired baby formula is by using it for your garden.
As the nutritional quality breaks on your expired powder formula, it still has sufficient nutrients that can be ideal for plants. That’s because all the nutrients in the expired food will still work as an effective compost for your thriving plants.
Donate it to Animal Shelters
Another way to repurpose your expired baby formula is by donating it to pet shelters. Unlike human babies, animals won’t get sick from drinking expired baby formula that’s been a day or two after the date.
So, when it comes to expired baby formula, it’s safe to give them to animals in the local animal shelter. Not only can you repurpose expired formula, but other baby animals like kittens and puppies can benefit from it, too. Animal shelters are in need of powdered formulas as they take care of sick animals and other poor souls who might need animal feed and any other pet care service.
Make a Pest Repellant
Turning your expired formula into an insect repellant is another way to reuse any of your baby formula that has gone bad. You can put it in a bottle and create a milk spray to prevent powdery mildew from attacking your plants. It’s a highly advisable solution for crops such as cucumbers and squash.
When you use an already expired infant formula, the protein that it has contains an antiseptic effect, especially when it gets exposed to the sun. You can make one by following the 40:60 ratio inside your spray bottle. You can then use it to spray your plants to prevent pest infestation.
Exchange Your Expired Formula for a New One
Another way to use your expired formula is by exchanging it for a new one. Although it’s only applicable to those who accidentally purchased an expired formula, most stores will let you exchange it for fresh baby formula.
So, when buying infant formula, it’s best always to keep the shop receipt so that you can either exchange it for a new product or get your money back.
Use Expired Formula to Make Milk Soaps
Some people may not know it, but you can use an expired formula to make milk soaps. Everyone knows how expensive milk soaps can be, especially those containing high amounts of protein.
Using an expired formula to make a milk soap is an excellent way to repurpose what you have and turn it into something useful. You don’t even have to worry about how long the prepared formulas have been made. You can prepare all your tools beforehand as you freeze baby formula. Then, let it melt partly to start the process. Before you know it, your skin will be as soft as your baby’s skin.
What Can You Do to Prevent Giving Your Baby Expired Formula?
Understandably, there are times when parents can have a lot of things on their plate. So, to make sure that you don’t give your baby expired formula, here are some tips that you can consider:
Use the Baby Formula After Opening
Some parents choose to switch formulas even before they’ve used up their existing formula. Thus, eventually causing their kid’s baby food to turn into an expired formula.
So, before you consider switching, it’s best to consume all your baby’s formula before it goes beyond the expiry date. Not only will prevent it from turning into a spoiled formula, but it’ll also give your baby to adapt to the new formula at the same time.
Never Attempt to Open Every New Formula At Once
Only open one formula powder for your baby. It’s also highly advisable to store it in an area at room temperature to ensure it won’t get contaminated with mold and other bacteria. It’s also a good practice for parents to follow the “use by” date on the packaging.
Opening several formula powder products all at once can cause you to lose track of their shelf life, which can cause the prepared formula to expire. So, it’s important to track the liquid formulas and consume them before the expiration date passes.
Always Follow the Label
When buying your baby’s prepared formula, it’s always best to read the label to ensure that you follow the instructions properly. Storing a powdered formula properly ensures that you won’t have expired formulas beyond their shelf life.
When you open baby formulas, ensure that you tightly close the lid to prevent it from getting spoiled. Also, make sure that you’re using a clean baby bottle to prevent microbial growth.
Can Freezing Baby Formula Extend Its Shelf Life?
Can baby formula expire even when inside the fridge? No, freezing baby formula doesn’t help extend the shelf life of powdered formula. Although you can keep the powdered formula inside the freezer, it can cause it to harden, which can make it more difficult to mix.
Also, freezers can cause large ice crystals to form in the formula, which can create a bitter taste when consumed. It can also alter the components, causing them to separate. Thus, changing the consistency of the baby food and even its quality.
What If Your Baby Drank Expired Formula?
An expired formula can cause babies to experience vomiting, diarrhea, and other stomach issues. There are also times when babies may be at risk of food poisoning, bacterial contamination, and other serious health issues. Other symptoms may include insufficient protein supplements, gassiness, and wheezing.
Consuming expired baby formula can also affect a baby’s expected growth. When babies don’t get the proper nutrition, it can lead to them being underweight or having delayed cognitive and physical development. Besides having a lack of access to food, consuming expired formula can also result in potential long-term health risks. That’s why it’s essential to check the expiration date printed on the label before buying one.
Can You Mix Expired Baby Formula Powder with a New Formula?
Even when used for mixing baby food, you should never attempt to give your baby any product that is beyond its expiration date. Even when you mix expired formula with a new batch of formula milk, its expiration date wouldn’t change or get extended.
Remember that all the risks will still be there. Even more, you’ll never know your baby’s reaction when you use expired baby formula. So, it’s best to check the formula expiration date to make sure.
Also, remember to read the instructions printed on the label. In most cases, brands would suggest their customers never to use expired baby formula with a fresh one.
Conclusion
It’s entirely understandable for parents to do everything they can to provide their babies with the best nutrition they need. However, most expired products aren’t good for consumption, especially for babies. Fortunately, there are other ways to use your expired formula instead of throwing it away.
Besides giving it to an animal shelter, you can also use it to give your baby a milk bath. It can also be an effective way to get rid of garden pests. So, try to find ways to repurpose your powdered milk differently and see how it goes!
We are here to help you. If you have a question, just leave a comment below and we will provide the best advice for your current situation.
