Danone North America announced alongside its Specialized Nutrition business, Nutricia, the availability of Pepticate in the United States to help support families with food allergies as the country continues to face a baby formula shortage.

Pepticate is an extensively hydrolyzed powdered formula (eHF) specifically designed to provide relief from the symptoms of cow milk allergy (CMA) in infants ages 0 to 12 months.

"For babies with food allergies that are not breastfed, hypoallergenic formulas like Pepticate are often their main source of nutrition, and can play a critical role in their development," said Steven Yannicelli, vice president, Medical and Scientific Affairs at Nutricia North America. "I'm proud of the work our teams have done in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to extend availability of this product in the U.S., increase formula supply for babies with cow milk allergy, and ultimately help families focus on enjoying more beautiful moments with their little ones."

Though it can be difficult to diagnose, CMA is the most common food allergy in infancy, reportedly affecting roughly 75,000 infants each year. It can be responsible for a wide range of symptoms like rashes, diarrhea, vomiting and colic. e

"The introduction of Pepticate to the U.S. is a welcomed development for parents who are concerned about their baby's cow milk allergy, and have had a difficult time finding the right formula," said Dr. Jenna Timboe, pediatrician, Ladera Ranch, Calif. "Now, parents have Pepticate as an option to address the unpleasant symptoms of CMA." Pepticate contains key elements inspired by breast milk, including lactose, prebiotic fiber nucleotides, and DHA/ARA. "I'm excited that Pepticate contains lactose as a key source of carbohydrate because it also helps make Pepticate taste great. That's very important for families, since a good tasting formula may decrease the likelihood of formula refusal and repeated doctor visits."

The introduction of Pepticate to the U.S. is one of several steps Danone has taken to help American families navigate the baby formula shortage. From the time the formula shortage began in early 2022 to date, the company has imported nearly 1.9 million cans of infant formula across its Aptamil, Neocate and Pepticate brands.