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Abbott Similac Advance
Photo: Open Food Facts contributors (CC BY-SA)

Infant formulas

Abbott Similac Advance

Okay out of 100 Medium confidence
  • Ultra-processed
  • Contains added sugars
  • Contains seed oils
  • No synthetic dyes
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Why it scores 51

Abbott Similac Advance scores 51 out of 100 (Okay) under GoodSwap’s published rules. What moved the score most:

  1. Lactose: An added sugar. Strong
  2. Ultra-processed (NOVA 4): Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. Strong
  3. 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers: Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), industrial protein and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. Emerging

Every line of the math is on The Receipt below, with its evidence tier and sources.

Better infant formula

The same kind of product, at least 10 points higher, sold in the US. Never paid placements.

The Receipt

Similac Advance

START100

Ingredients

  • Lactose
    Strong An added sugar. [1][2][3]
  • Safflower oil
    Emerging High in omega-6 linoleic acid. [4][5][6][7]
  • Whey protein concentrate / isolate
    Info An ingredient typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
  • Inulin (chicory root fiber)
    Info An ingredient class typical of ultra-processed foods (NOVA group 4). [8]
subtotal−26.5

Processing

  • Ultra-processed (NOVA 4)
    Strong Classified NOVA 4: made with industrial ingredients and additives. [8]
  • 4 kinds of ultra-processing markers
    Emerging Industrial additive classes found: bulking agent, color (added), industrial protein and industrial sugar or starch hydrolysate. [8]
subtotal−22.5
TOTAL 51Okay

100 − 49 = 51

Can’t score above 79. Contains lactose, an ingredient of high concern. [1][2][3]

GTIN 00070074559582 · 2026-09-28

score v1.3.0 · kb 2026.10.11

Medium confidence

Same product, same score. Every time.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy68 kcal
Fat3.8 g
Carbohydrates7.2 g
Added sugars0 g
Protein1.4 g
Salt0 g

Serving: 148ml

Ingredients

High Moderate Not recognized Tap an ingredient for its evidence and rules.
Label text, as published

NONFAT MILK, LACTOSE, HIGH OLEIC SAFFLOWER OIL, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY OL COCONUT OL, GALACTOOLIGOSACCHARIDES; LESS THAN 2% OF: C. COHNI OL, M. ALPINA OL, BETA - W CARUTENE, LUTEN, LYCOPENE, POTASSIUM CITRATE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, ASCORBIC ACID, SOY LECTHIN, PUIASSUM CALORIDE, MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE, FERROUS SULFATE, CHOLINE BITARTRATE, CHOLNE CHLORDE, ASCORBYL PALMITATE, SALT, TAURINE, INOSITOL, ZINC SULFATE, MIXED TOCOPHEROLS, d-ALPHA - SINE 5-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM URIDINE 5'-MONOPHOSPHATE). 5-AMONOPHOSPHATE, CYTIDINE 5-MONOPHOSPHATE, DISODIUM GUANO - MANGANESE SULFATE, PHYLLOQUINONE, BIOTIN, SODIUM SELENATE, VITAMIN D3, VITAMIN B, CALCUM COPPER SULFATE, THIAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FOLIC ACD, TOCOPHERYL ACETATE, NIACINAMIDE, CALCIUM PANTOTHENATE, L-CARNITINE, VITAMIN A PALMITATE, UPER SULFATE, THAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE, RIBOFLAVIN, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE, FULI A

Allergens and diets

Contains: Milk, Tree nuts

  • Not vegan

Always check the package: recipes change.

Healthiest infant formulas in the US

More from Abbott

Sources

  1. Guideline: sugars intake for adults and children

    World Health Organization · Mar 4, 2015 · Agency assessment

    “In both adults and children, WHO recommends reducing the intake of free sugars to less than 10% of total energy intake”

    who.int

  2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030

    U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture · January 2026 · Regulator

    “Limit foods and beverages that include artificial flavors, petroleum-based dyes, artificial preservatives, and low-calorie non-nutritive sweeteners.”

    cdn.realfood.gov

  3. Added and free sugars should be as low as possible

    European Food Safety Authority · Feb 28, 2022 · Agency assessment

    “Sugar consumption is a known cause of dental caries.”

    efsa.europa.eu

  4. Re-evaluation of the traditional diet-heart hypothesis: analysis of recovered data from Minnesota Coronary Experiment (1968-73)

    BMJ · Apr 12, 2016 · Peer-reviewed

    “replacement of saturated fat in the diet with linoleic acid effectively lowers serum cholesterol but does not support the hypothesis that this translates to a lower risk of death from coronary heart disease or all causes.”

    doi.org

  5. Use of dietary linoleic acid for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease and death: evaluation of recovered data from the Sydney Diet Heart Study and updated meta-analysis

    BMJ · Feb 4, 2013 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  6. Dietary Linoleic Acid and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

    Circulation · Oct 28, 2014 · Peer-reviewed

    “These data provide support for current recommendations to replace saturated fat with polyunsaturated fat for primary prevention of CHD.”

    doi.org

  7. Dietary Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: A Presidential Advisory From the American Heart Association

    Circulation · Jul 18, 2017 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  8. Ultra-processed foods: what they are and how to identify them

    Public Health Nutrition · April 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org

  9. Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes: umbrella review of epidemiological meta-analyses

    BMJ · Feb 28, 2024 · Peer-reviewed

    “Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and mortality outcomes.”

    doi.org

  10. Ultra-Processed Diets Cause Excess Calorie Intake and Weight Gain: An Inpatient Randomized Controlled Trial of Ad Libitum Food Intake

    Cell Metabolism · July 2019 · Peer-reviewed

    doi.org