For more than 100 years, the scientists of Abbott Nutrition have been committed to addressing the unique nutrition challenges of people of all ages. This commitment continues today in six research sites across the globe where nutrition scientists focus on infant nutrition, diabetes, cancer, critical care, malnutrition, lean body mass development, immunology, sports nutrition, and other nutrition-related areas.

Significant Milestones

 
1903 Harry C. Moores and Stanley M. Ross founded the Moores & Ross Milk Company in Columbus, Ohio.

1924 Created and introduced the first milk-based infant formula

1951 Convened the first conference on Pediatric research: Megaloblastic Anemia

1954 Published the first issue of Nurse Currents, a biannual newsletter for OB and Pediatric nurses.

1959 Produced the first iron-fortified infant formula to reduce iron-deficient anemia in infants

1964 Abbott Nutrition, then known as Ross Laboratories, merged with Abbott Laboratories, one of the world's largest health care corporations.

1966 Produced the first Ready To Feed Oral Electrolyte Solution for dehydration in infants and children

1973 Pioneered the field of medical nutrition therapy by developing the first complete, balanced, lactose-free nutritional product for adults to address hospital malnutrition, reducing the risk of nutritional deficiencies and contamination in a clinical setting

1978 Developed a powdered elemental formula that provides nutritionally complete feeding for adults with gastrointestinal problems

Developed an infant formula designed to meet the special needs of premature and low-birth-weight infants

Convened the first conference on medical nutrition research: Assessment of Energy Metabolism in Health and Disease

1981 Developed a formula for children who have problems absorbing carbohydrates

1985 Developed the first enteral nutrition product in the United States designed for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Developed a liquid breast-milk fortifier to bolster the nutritional intake of breastfed premature infants

1986 Developed a concentrated protein source for people with increased protein needs

1987 Developed an isotonic, fiber-fortified, high-nitrogen liquid formula representing the latest innovation in tube-feeding

1988 Developed the first iron-fortified formula for premature and low-birth-weight infants in the United States

1989 Created a hydrolyzed protein for infants who have gastrointestinal or other diseases that require a formula with predigested protein

Created a nutrition formula clinically shown to support normalization of blood glucose while delivering complete and balanced nutrition in patients with diabetes

1991 Developed beractant intratracheal suspension, used in the prevention and treatment of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants

Developed an adult nutrition formula to support the protein needs of people with kidney disease and patients on dialysis

1994 Introduced first formula in the United States to address special nutritional needs of premature infants after hospital discharge

1998 Introduced first formulation in the ICU to address special nutritional needs of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)

2000 Produced Human Milk Fortifier, a nutritional supplement added to preterm human milk for low-birth-weight infants

2002 Developed an adult nutritional formula to reduce and reverse the weight loss associated with cancer cachexia

2004 Partnered with Working Mother Media to launch Business Backs BreastfeedingTM, designed to help companies more effectively support mothers who continue to breastfeed after returning to work

2005 Launched Diabetes Control For LifeTM, an online diabetes education site to help people reach their personal diabetes management goals

2008 Conducted the 109th Abbott Nutrition Research Conference: Mucosal Immune Development and Dietary Influences

2009 Conducted the 110th Abbott Nutrition Research Conference: Role of Nutrition in Accretion, Retention and Recovery of Lean Body Mass

Abbott Nutrition Health Institute debuts at 13th Congress of PENSA, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

2010 Launched Abbott Nutrition Health Institute in India