Mead Johnson Nutrition Celebrates 120 Years of Innovation in Global Infant Nutrition
Policymakers commemorate anniversary at flagship manufacturing center in Evansville
EVANSVILLE, Ind., Aug. 29, 2025 – Mead Johnson Nutrition (MJN), a global leader in infant and child nutrition and a subsidiary of Reckitt, proudly marked its 120th anniversary with a ceremony at its U.S. headquarters in Evansville, Indiana – home to its largest R&D and manufacturing center in the U.S. This milestone honors the company's legacy of advancing scientific research to support the healthy development of infants and children by delivering trusted and science-backed pediatric nutrition products to families worldwide.
quote icon"From introducing a Vitamin A and D supplement during World War II, to developing the world's first infant formula for babies allergic to cow's milk, to being first in the U.S. to introduce the omega-3 fatty acid DHA into infant formula — which is now widely recognized as the gold standard in infant nutrition — the innovations developed by Mead Johnson for more than a century have benefited generations of children and families all over the globe."
Robert Cleveland Senior Vice President, Mead Johnson, North America
The event featured hundreds of local MJN employees, executives from across North America, remarks from Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry, a congratulatory video message from Indiana Governor Mike Braun, and the presentation of an official statement in the Congressional Record by U.S. Congressman Mark Messmer.
"Mead Johnson pioneered the field of infant nutrition," said Governor Mike Braun. "As an entrepreneur myself, I know that businesses are all about people and I want to thank all of you for your hard work. As you celebrate 120 years, know that the state of Indiana is proud of your accomplishments."
U.S. Representative Mark Messmer presented the company with an official statement submitted to the Congressional Record to mark the occasion. At the end of each congressional session, the Congressional Record is bound and archived in the Library of Congress, becoming a part of Congressional and national history.
"Mead Johnson has become a world leader with a mission to nourish the world's children for the best start in life," said Congressman Messmer. "Today, the Enfamil family of formulas developed in Evansville supports infant nutrition across the globe, and Enfamil is the top infant formula brand recommended by pediatricians in the U.S. I commend Mead Johnson and the important work their team accomplishes in advancing pediatric nutrition and nourishing the world's children, starting in Southern Indiana."
Throughout its history, MJN has differentiated itself through its clinical, science-based approach, leading research to better understand the nature of human milk and applying new knowledge to design products modeled after breast milk. Some highlights are below.
- Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): MJN was the first company in the U.S. to introduce DHA into infant formula in 2002. This omega-3 fatty acid is critical for infant brain and eye development and is now widely recognized as a standard of care in infant nutrition.
- Milk Fat Globule Membrane (MFGM): MJN's innovative technologies and achievements in breast milk research brought MFGM components similar to those found in human milk into infant formula in 2018. MFGM is found in every drop of breast milk and plays a key role in brain growth and development.
- Probiotic LGG: In 2009 MJN was the first and continues to be the ONLY company to leverage Probiotic LGG in its Nutramigen infant formula. This probiotic supports gut health and the immune system for children who have food allergies. Today, Nutramigen is recognized by pediatricians as the #1 recommended infant formula for infants with cow's milk allergies.
"Beyond our heritage of innovation, we strive to not only make the best products, but also serve our communities and parents across America," added Cleveland. "Notably, Mead Johnson was instrumental in solving the unprecedented infant formula crisis in 2022. At the time, we were the only company able to scale and implement extraordinary measures to increase infant formula speed to market by 40 percent while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality. This swift response closed the national supply gap, ensuring families once again had reliable access to the essential nutrition on which their families depend."