Enfamil^® vs. Similac^®* Infant Formulas: The #RaiseTheDHA Petition

Enfamil recently launched a petition designed to encourage parents to buy formula with higher levels of DHA. The move was aimed at Similac, a competing brand that (according to Enfamil) sells formula with lower levels of DHA. Enfamil's public-relations stunt, held in New York City, gave moms and dads the opportunity to:

• Trade their new or used Similac container for Enfamil
• Sign Enfamil's petition, challenging Similac to raise DHA amounts in the products
• Learn more about the importance of DHA

Enfamil infant formulas include Infant, Gentlease^®, and A.R.^® (with added rice starch to reduce spit up.) According to Enfamil, these products are formulated with expert recommended levels of DHA and ARA to support baby's brain and eye development.

DHA in Infant Formula

Most infant formulas on the market today contain the lipid DHA (docosahexaenoic acid), which is an essential omega-3 fatty acid for brain and eye development. Enfamil's website reads, "Shouldn't every baby get an expert-recommended amount of DHA?"

Enfamil also claims that it was the first brand to have DHA in its formulas 20 years ago and is the "only leading formula brand to provide DHA at an expert-recommended amount (0.32% of total fatty acids) in its infant formulas."

Store Brand Infant Formulas have the Same Expert-Recommended Levels of DHA

Store brand infant formulas contain the latest innovations in infant nutrition. These include ingredients that are not required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration but are present in formulas because they occur naturally in breast milk. These innovations—which are found in nationally advertised formulas (Enfamil and Similac) and store brand formulas— include DHA, ARA, choline, lutein, nucleotides, and prebiotics and probiotics.

You can sign Enfamil's petition if you want, or you can compare a store brand formula sold at your favorite store to the nutrition of Enfamil products. Like Enfamil, leading retailers offer nutritionally comparable products with the same levels (0.32% of fatty acids) of DHA:

• Store Brand Infant Formula
• Store Brand Gentle^® Formula
• Store Brand Added Rice Formula

All three of these formulas compare to the nutrition of Enfamil Infant, Enfamil Gentlease, and Enfamil A.R., and have the same expert-recommended amount of DHA as Enfamil.

Formula-Feeding Parents Will Appreciate the Price of Store Brand Formulas

We support bringing the best infant-feeding options to families, which is why Perrigo Nutrition partners with retail, grocery, and drug stores to provide moms and dads the best value when it comes to feeding baby.

Enfamil wants parents to know that Enfamil infant formulas include the expert-recommend amounts of DHA, whereas the competing brand Similac is failing to meet these amounts.

Store brand formulas meet the same expert-recommended amounts of DHA and cost less money. In fact, store brand infant formulas typically save families up to 50 percent versus Enfamil and Similac.** These savings can add up to $900 a year.**