Baby formula can go bad quickly if not stored and handled properly. There are several reasons why prepared baby formula should not be used after one hour.
Bacterial Growth
One of the main reasons baby formula shouldn’t sit out is due to the risk of bacterial growth. Baby formula provides the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive. The main offender is a bacteria called Enterobacter sakazakii, which can contaminate powdered infant formula or develop in prepared formula left out too long. This bacteria grows best in temperatures between 77-113°F. If formula is left out at room temperature for more than two hours, dangerous levels of bacteria like E. sakazakii can develop.
Bacteria multiply rapidly in the nutritious environment of infant formula. Even small numbers of bacteria like E. sakazakii can become millions in a few hours. Infant immune systems are not strong enough to fight off infections from bacterial contaminations in formula.
Food safety organizations recommend discarding left out formula after one hour to limit the growth of bacteria. The longer formula sits out past one hour, the greater the risks of bacterial contamination.
How Bacteria Gets in Formula
Bacteria that can grow in baby formula comes from a few sources:
- Formula powder is not sterile and may contain low levels of pathogenic bacteria
- Bacteria is introduced during the preparation process through contaminated equipment or improper handling
- Bacteria spreads from the infant’s mouth back into the formula during feeding
- Fomula is contaminated by bacteria in the environment during storage
No matter how it gets there, bacteria will rapidly multiply if the formula is left sitting out at room temperature. Even keeping prepared formula in the refrigerator does not stop bacteria growth completely. Refrigeration simply slows the growth rate.
Risks of Bacterial Contamination
What dangers do these bacteria in formula pose? Potential effects include:
- Gastrointestinal infections
- Bloodstream infections (sepsis)
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Urinary tract infections
- Death (in rare cases)
Infants under two months are at the greatest risk. Their immune systems are not developed enough to fight off infection. Premature infants or those with weakened immune systems are also more susceptible to serious illness from bacterial contamination of formula.
Loss of Nutritional Value
Another reason not to use baby formula past one hour is loss of nutritional quality. Formula contains essential proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and fat. Leaving prepared formula out too long allows the nutrients to start breaking down.
Over time, the proteins in formula begin losing structural integrity and the amino acids start degrading. The carbohydrates also degrade as time passes. This reduces the bioavailability of the nutrients to the infant. Fat separation can also start occurring the longer formula sits out, meaning babies won’t get the full calories in each serving.
Vitamins are sensitive to light, air, and time. The vitamin C and B vitamins in formula start degrading in as little as 15 minutes after mixing formula. Other vitamins and minerals also decline in leftover formula if not consumed right after preparation.
To get the full nutritional value of formula, health agencies stress the importance of proper handling and storage. Prepared formula that sits out too long undergoes chemical changes that reduce the quality of the nutrients. Even if refrigerated, some nutrient loss occurs in baby formula after 24 hours.
Nutrition & Immune System Development
Providing quality nutrition is extremely important for infants under one year old. During this critical growth period, babies require optimal nutrition to support physical and cognitive development. Key nutrients in breastmilk or formula also help build babies’ immune systems.
If babies don’t get adequate nutrition during the first year of life, their growth and development fall behind. Using spoiled formula exposes babies to degraded proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. This means they miss out on getting the full benefits of these essential nutrients.
Nutrient deficiencies early in life can have long-lasting impacts. They may increase risks for chronic health issues later on. Using formula past one hour provides lower quality nutrition for vulnerable infants. This is one reason it is so important to follow safe formula handling guidelines.
Changes in Smell, Color, Texture
Relying on your senses is one way to gauge when prepared formula is no longer good. Here are some signs of spoilage to look out for:
- Smell – Fresh formula has a mild, creamy aroma. Spoiled formula gives off a sour, curdled odor.
- Color – Good formula is white or slightly yellow. As it goes bad, the color changes to yellow, brown, or grey.
- Texture – Newly prepared formula has a smooth, liquid consistency. Spoiled formula becomes chunky, develops a film, or turns thick.
- Taste – Fresh formula tastes mild. Bad formula tastes sour or bitter.
If you notice any unpleasant changes in the look, smell, texture, or taste of formula that has been sitting out, it is safest to throw it out. Even if there are no obvious signs of spoilage, it is still best to follow the one hour guideline.
When to Toss Formula
Discard any unused liquid infant formula left sitting out that meets these conditions:
- Over 1 hour since preparation
- Over 2 hours since last fed to baby
- Has been at room temperature longer than two hours
- Was not fully covered or capped
- Shows any signs of spoilage
Sticking to the one hour limit can help reduce food safety risks. But when in doubt, remember it’s better to be safe and discard formula you think may be spoiled.
Proper Handling & Storage
To get the most out of prepared infant formula, follow these best practices for handling and storage:
- Carefully sanitize all equipment used to mix formula
- Always wash hands before preparing bottles
- Use hot water (158°F or higher) to make formula powder
- Immediately cool to room or feeding temperature
- Refrigerate unused made-up formula right after preparation
- Keep refrigerated formula capped and towards the back, not the door
- Consume refrigerated formula within 24 hours
- Do not save or reuse formula once baby has drank from bottle
- Throw away any formula left sitting out over 1 hour
Proper cleaning, preparation, cooling, covering, and refrigeration are key to keeping formula safe. Following these steps reduces the opportunity for bacteria to grow and formula to spoil.
Avoiding Cross-Contamination
Practicing good hygiene and avoiding cross-contamination are also critical when handling infant formula. Here are some tips:
- Clean and sanitize prep spaces, bottles, and equipment
- Don’t let spoons or bottles touch tabletops or counters
- Use sanitized utensils and containers just for formula
- Don’t reuse bottles without washing first
- Keep formula away from raw foods during preparation
- Store open formula containers separately from other items
- Make sure formula is the only thing touching baby’s mouth during feedings
This helps stop bacteria from spreading into the formula during mixing, feeding, or storage. Limiting cross-contamination reduces food safety hazards.
Powdered vs. RTF Formula
Both powdered and RTF (ready-to-feed) formula need to be handled properly to avoid spoilage. However, there are some differences:
Powdered Formula:
- Requires mixing with water first
- Risk of bacterial contamination during preparation
- Nutrients degrade faster once mixed with water
- Discard within 1 hour of mixing
RTF Formula:
- Sold as sterile liquid, ready to use
- Lower contamination risk from preparation
- Opened containers still need refrigeration
- Discard within 48 hours of opening
No matter what type of formula, following safe handling guidelines, like the one hour rule, helps reduce food safety hazards. But RTF formula provides built-in advantages for convenience and lower contamination risk.
Bottle Feeding Tips
Once formula is prepared, here are some bottle feeding recommendations:
- Hold infant semi-upright during feedings
- Gently tip bottle to maintain milk flow. Avoid forceful squirting.
- Take pauses to burp infant and avoid overfeeding
- Saliva and air can backflow into bottle – don’t reuse after feeding begins
- Throw away formula after 1 hour from start of feeding
- Discard after each feeding to limit bacterial growth
Feed infants slowly and responsibly, being careful to not introduce any new bacteria into the bottles. And follow the one hour rule after starting a feeding session.
Avoid Reusing Bottles
It can be tempting to reuse bottles to reduce formula waste. But this significantly increases safety risks. Each time a baby drinks from a bottle, bacteria from their mouth transfers back into the formula. The longer this formula sits at room temperature, the more this bacteria flourishes.
Reusing bottles without washing provides a direct route for dangerous bacteria levels to accumulate in formula. ALWAYS discard remaining formula from a feeding rather than putting it back in the fridge. And NEVER save leftovers for use in a future bottle. This can make a baby extremely sick.
Conclusion
Baby formula should not be consumed more than one hour after preparation due to risks of bacterial growth, nutrient degradation, and general spoilage. Formula makes an ideal breeding ground for potentially dangerous bacteria. These bacteria grow rapidly in the nutritionally-rich formula, especially when left out at room temperature for extended periods.
Even refrigeration can’t stop the formula from losing nutritional quality after an hour. Important proteins, vitamins, fats, and minerals start breaking down, reducing the benefits babies receive. To get the full nutritional value from formula, it needs to be freshly prepared and consumed within one hour.
Look out for signs of spoilage like foul smells, change in color or texture, and curdled appearance. When in doubt, stick to the one hour rule as a food safety precaution. Follow all preparation, storage, and handling best practices to limit contamination risks.
Discard any made-up formula left sitting out more than one hour. Fresh is best when it comes to your baby’s nutrition and health. Being mindful of proper formula handling gives your infant the greatest benefits from this important food source.
