The World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines on the safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula after experts recognized that powdered formula is not sterile and can put babies at risk for serious bacterial infections. If you are giving any formula to your baby, please take seriously these precautions to be certain that you are not inadvertently putting your child's health at risk. Cases of Salmonella enterica and Cronobacter sakazakii infections have been linked to powdered infant formula.

The following information is taken from the WHO Guidelines for the safe preparation, storage and handling of powdered infant formula.

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To reduce risk, the WHO recommends cleaning and sterilizing feeding and preparation equipment and then making a fresh bottle of powdered infant formula for each feed by:

 cleaning and disinfecting all surfaces you will be using and washing your hands properly

 boiling water: even if it is bottled water, bringing water to 158 degrees Fahrenheit

 pour it into a cleaned and sterilized bottle

 add the exact amount of powdered formula to the water

 assemble the bottle and mix the powdered formula thoroughly

 quickly cool the bottle by holding it under running tap water, or by placing it in a container of cold water or iced water

 dry the bottle with a clean cloth

 check the temperature of the formula so that it doesn't burn your baby's mouth

 feed your baby if the formula is at an appropriate temperature

Baby Formula Safety

After you prepare your baby's formula, you should follow some simple rules to keep your baby safe.

 Unless you refrigerated the prepared formula, feed it to your baby within two hours (hold time).

 If you do put the prepared formula in the refrigerator, be sure to use it within 24 hours.

 Once your baby starts feeding from a bottle, be sure he finishes the formula within one to two hours and don't put the bottle back in the refrigerator. Unused formula should not be saved for later. Instead, simply prepare less formula next time so that you don't have so much left over.

 Don't warm baby formula bottles in the microwave. Instead, use a baby bottle warmer or place the bottles in a container of warm water.