Formulas for
Children with
Cow's Milk
Protein Allergy

Hypoallergenic speciality formulas are recommended for infants and young children diagnosed with cow's milk/dairy protein allergy (CMPA), that are not exclusively breastfed. These products are based on proteins that have been heat-treated and enzymatically hydrolyzed to different degrees to disrupt the majority of allergenic epitopes.¹

For an infant formula to be labelled “hypoallergenic” it needs to have been clinically tested and proven to be effective in at least 90% of children with proven CMPA (with a 95% CI), according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).²

Only hypoallergenic formulas, either extensively hydrolyzed (eHF) or amino acid-based formulas (AAF) are considered suitable milk replacements for children with CMPA. Partially hydrolyzed formulas (pHF) are not a suitable replacement formula in infants and children with CMPA.

Babies with CMPA who are not exclusively breastfed will need a suitable alternative formula to ensure they receive all the nutrients required for growth and development. These are called hypoallergenic formulas, meaning that they are designed to be less likely to cause allergic reactions.

There are two types of hypoallergenic formulas, the first being extensively hydrolyzed containing very small chains of proteins that are not recognized by your baby’s immune system, of animal or plant-based protein sources. The second type is amino acid based formulas, with highly broken-down proteins i.e., into individual units called free amino acids. For the majority of babies, the extensively hydrolysed formula (EHF) is most suitable. Only in severe cases of CMPA is the free amino acid-based formulas (AAF) used. Your healthcare provider will advise which hypoallergenic formula is most suitable for your baby.