diff --git a/field_collection.module b/field_collection.module
index b2d9126..1e7decc 100644
--- a/field_collection.module
+++ b/field_collection.module
@@ -704,6 +704,14 @@ function field_collection_field_formatter_view($entity_type, $entity, $field, $i
           }
           $element[$delta]['links'] = $links;
         }
+
+        if (module_exists('microdata')) {
+          // Since this is being displayed within a field, it is not a top level
+          // item in microdata.
+          foreach (element_children($element[$delta]['entity']['field_collection_item']) as $key) {
+            $element[$delta]['entity']['field_collection_item'][$key]['#entity']->microdata_top_level_item = FALSE;
+          }
+        }
       }
       break;
   }