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FAQs
You’re not the first to ask.
It's natural to have questions about how Neocate can help your child with a cow milk allergy or other severe food allergies. We've done our best to answer them clearly and directly, but these are general answers. And if you don't find what you need here, try our Food Allergy Living blog or Glossary. Of course, you know your child best. Trust your intuition. If you have concerns, please ask your doctor or dietitian for advice.
FAQ Categories:
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Understanding Neocate
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What’s an elemental formula?
An elemental formula is a medical food made from free amino acids, the building blocks of protein, instead of whole or partial proteins that can cause an allergic reaction in some children. Elemental amino acid-based formulas—such as Neocate—help provide all the essential nutrients your child needs to grow and develop.
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Will Neocate Infant formula meet all of my child’s nutritional needs?
Neocate Infant was designed to meet the daily nutritional requirements of an infant just like standard infant formula.
As a parent, you know your child best. If you are concerned that your child is not gaining weight or growing as you feel they should, consult your doctor or dietitian. They will be able to assess if nutritional needs are being met and if dietary adjustments are necessary.
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What is Neocate?
Neocate is specially designed elemental nutrition for the dietary management of cow milk and soy allergy, multiple food protein intolerance (MFPI), food-allergy-associated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), short bowel syndrome (SBS), malabsorption and other GI disorders. It’s based on 100% free amino acids, the simple building blocks of protein.
Neocate is a hypoallergenic formula, which means it is less likely to cause an allergic response. It helps meet all the nutritional requirements needed for normal growth and development in infants and children. And it’s a powdered product, which is easy to mix and use on the go.
At Neocate, you’ll find that we created the RightAge™ line of nutrition to support the changing nutritional and social development needs of infants and children. Learn more about RightAge Nutrition.
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How long will my child need Neocate?
It depends on many factors, including your child’s medical condition and how sensitive he or she is to certain foods. Your child’s physician or dietitian will guide you on how long your child needs Neocate. There is no standard amount of time your child will need Neocate.
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Neocate Infant looks and tastes different than other infant formulas. Is this normal?
Yes, it’s perfectly normal. Neocate is based on free amino acids that give it its characteristic taste and smell and an appearance similar to breast milk. Our exclusive formula gives it superior taste, smell and texture compared to other amino acid-based infant formulas.
Don’t be surprised. Many babies are resistant to any new taste sensations, so it may take a few tries before they get used to the taste of Neocate. For some helpful pointers, take a look at our guide Feeding Tips for a Successful Transition. Insights from many parents have been incorporated here.
Many parents have tried Neocate and found that it tastes different than any other food or drink they’ve ever had. Understandably, adult taste preferences are different to those of an infant.
Neocate may appear paler and thinner than a typical formula, but, again, this is normal. Please do not be tempted to add more Neocate powder to give the formula a deeper color or thicker consistency. Neocate should only be made according to the mixing instructions on the can or given to you by your child’s doctor or dietitian.
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Are there Neocate products available for children over the age of one?
Absolutely. Neocate provides RightAge™ Nutrition—nutrition specifically designed to keep pace with your child as they grow from infancy on. Neocate Junior with Prebiotics provides added benefits of prebiotic fibers to help promote overall digestive health in children over the age of one. Neocate also comes in a variety of forms and flavors to give your child real choices. For example, Neocate’s E028 Splash comes in a ready-to-go drink box that’s perfect for school and playing at the park.
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What is Neocate Nutra?
Neocate Nutra is the first and only hypoallergenic, amino acid-based semi-solid food for children and infants older than six months of age with cow milk allergy or soy milk allergy, multiple food protein intolerance and other gastrointestinal conditions associated with food allergies. It contains important vitamins and nutrients needed for balanced nutrition.
Neocate Nutra can be used to safely introduce new textures and develop important feeding skills or as a complement to an elemental liquid diet. When mixed with water, Neocate Nutra forms a smooth, consistent texture ideal for spoon feeding. It is for oral use only and is not intended to be bottle or tube fed. Neocate Nutra should not be used as a sole source of nutrition but as a supplement to other foods as directed by your doctor or dietitian. Please take a look at our Neocate Nutra Recipe Guide for more information on Neocate Nutra including tasty recipes ideas.
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My baby has corn and soy allergies, and I noticed your formula contains these ingredients. Will my baby be allergic to Neocate?
No. Neocate does not contain any corn or soy proteins, the elements that trigger an allergic reaction. Neocate uses highly purified corn carbohydrate as a source of energy. Neocate Infant uses highly purified soy oil as a source of fat.
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Are Neocate products Kosher?
Our company does not have official Kosher certification for the Neocate products. However, the London Beth Din Kashrut Division (LBDKD), an independent, leading authority on Kosher food and Jewish Law, recognizes some of our products as Kosher. Please note that we are not affiliated with this organization. Here is an "Approved Product List" from their site which list Neocate as well as an "Approved Product List" from their site which list E028 Splash and Duocal.
If you are interested in using one of our products and are concerned about the Kosher status, please share the information above with your Rabbi. Click to contact the London Beth Din Kashrut Division.
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How Neocate Is Different
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What makes Neocate different from the formulas at the grocery store?
Neocate is a specialized elemental nutrition product. The formulas you find at the grocery contain whole proteins or protein fragments (hydrolysates), which are derived from cow milk or soy. These formulas have more potential to cause an allergic response than nutrition products made from free amino acids.
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How to Use Neocate
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How long will an open can of Neocate last? When does it expire? Is it good past the expiration date?
Neocate is good for 30 days after you open the can. You can find the expiration date on the bottom of each can. We do not recommend using any Neocate product after the expiration date.
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How long can Neocate be kept once it has been prepared?
Neocate can be kept at room temperature for four hours. If your baby has fed from the bottle, you should discard any remaining formula within an hour to prevent spoiling. Prepared Neocate can be kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Visit Neocate’s mixing instructions for more information.
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How long can Neocate hang for tube feeding after being mixed?
Four hours maximum. Discard any remaining formula after four hours and prepare a new batch.
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The instructions on the can say to use sterile water. I don’t know what sterile water is. How can I get it? Can I use bottled water?
To make sterile water, boil water for five minutes and allow it to cool for 20 to 30 minutes. You can store sterile water in sterile glassware with a clean lid. Sterile water should be used within 24 hours. Many parents find it easiest to boil water in the morning to last for the day. Most bottled water is not sterile. If the bottle does not specifically state "sterile" on the label it must be boiled.
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What You May See
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When will I see an improvement in my child after starting Neocate?
Some children show improvement quickly while others may take a little longer. Severe food allergies can cause inflammation and irritation. As with a cut or burn, this takes time to heal.
Controlled clinical studies with a food elimination diet and Neocate showed improvement in diarrhea, blood in stool and vomiting in as little as three days in infants and children with diagnosed cow milk allergy. Improvement in gastroesophageal reflux and skin irritations, such as eczema and atopic dermatitis, were reported in 14 days.
For children on an elimination diet, it’s important to stick to your doctor or dietitian’s instructions.
- If you’re trying a maternal elimination diet and still breast-feeding, eat only the foods your doctor or dietitian suggests.
- If you’re trying an elimination diet with your child using Neocate, do not introduce any other formula or foods until directed by your doctor or dietitian.
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My baby’s bowel movements have changed since beginning Neocate. Is this normal?
Yes, this is perfectly normal and common. Stools can change in consistency and color when a child is introduced to an elemental formula such as Neocate.
The reason for this is that Neocate is a very simple form of nutrition. The change in color is due to bile. Bile helps digest food in your intestines. Since the nutrients in Neocate are already broken down, the bile isn’t used and is excreted, giving the stools a greenish color. It’s a natural effect of taking Neocate and does not affect your baby’s health—that’s why our motto is “Green Is Glorious.”
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My baby seems to be constipated and has hard stools. Is this common?
Neocate should not cause constipation when used as directed. As is common when changing formulas, it may take longer for your child to adjust, resulting in a change in stool consistency. Your child’s stools should become consistent about two weeks after using Neocate regularly.
Even though Neocate should not cause constipation, your child can become constipated for other reasons. If you’re concerned, please talk to your doctor.
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My baby’s appetite has increased since starting Neocate. Is this normal?
Absolutely and it’s a good sign. Because a food elimination diet using Neocate reduces gut discomfort and distress, your child should start to feel better, which may help improve his or her appetite. What’s more, as your child grows, their body’s energy demands increase—and their appetite naturally increases to keep pace. Neocate has also been shown to promote catch-up growth in children with food allergies.
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Practical Issues
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Will my insurance cover the cost of Neocate?
It depends on your insurance plan and where you live. Currently, insurers in 14 states provide some form of reimbursement assistance for Neocate. To learn more about your specific state, and other programs that can assist you, please visit our reimbursement page.
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Where can I buy Neocate?
You can buy Neocate directly from us or by calling 1-800-Neocate. You won’t find Neocate on grocery store shelves, but your pharmacy can easily order it for you.
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Why is Neocate available at my pharmacy but not my grocery store?
Neocate is classified as a medical food and an exempt infant formula. Our products are designed to help manage specific diseases or conditions and must be used under medical supervision. Special medical foods, like Neocate, are not found on grocery shelves.
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