Why is the baby formula shortage still happening?
The formula shortage was an issue originally tied to the long-running global supply chain crisis, but it spiked in February after a voluntary recall by the formula manufacturer Abbott
How long will baby formula shortage last?
Nearly one year has passed since the baby formula shortage began impacting America’s kids and parents ? and the issue may not end this year. A new report by Reckitt Benckiser, the maker of Enfamil, indicates shortages are expected to persist until at least the spring of 2023
What can I give my baby if I ran out of formula?
If you run out of formula and can’t find any, in a pinch you can give oral rehydration solution (such as Pedialyte, Enfalyte, or a store brand) for a couple of days. Babies older than 4 to 6 months can also get puréed (finely ground) foods.
Why is there a shortage of baby formula 2022?
The initial cause of the formula shortage was COVID-19-related supply chain issues, with some sources, including The Atlantic and Popular Mechanics, identifying these as still being (as of mid-May 2022) the leading cause.
What is causing the baby formula shortage 2022?
In February 2022, the FDA recalled three types of widely used powdered formula as a result, and the plant shut down due to safety concerns. Recently, in October 2022, certain Abbott ready-to-feed formulas were recalled due to broken bottle seals, possibly causing spoilage and contamination.
The National Baby Formula Shortage and the Inequitable U.S. …
The National Baby Formula Shortage and the Inequitable U.S. Food System Media Contact Government Affairs In this article Baby formula sits in a fridge outside Glassmanor Community Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, on May 25, 2022. (Getty/Stefani Reynolds) Introduction and summary Food and nutrition are literally life-giving and life-sustaining, yet parents and caretakers in the United States who rely on infant and specialty formulas for their loved ones’ health and nutritional needs face high prices and severe shortages. As of May 2022, 43 percent of formula products were out of stock nationwide—a massive increase from the average out-of-stock rate of between 2 percent and 8 percent at the start of the year.1 Some states, including Iowa, the Dakotas, Missouri, and Texas, are grappling with out-of-stock rates of more than 50 percent.2 The cost of infant and specialized formula was already untenably high for many, but recent safety concerns, supply chain issues, and challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic have raised the price of baby formula to alarming highs and driven stock frighteningly low. Over the past year, the average cost of the most popular baby formula products went…
What led to the U.S. baby formula shortage – CNBC
What led to the U.S. baby formula shortage − and how officials are trying to prevent it from happening againParents across the U.S. are still scrambling to find baby formula after a national product recall triggered empty store shelves, higher prices and retailers limiting sales of scarce products.”You get this sick feeling in the pit of your stomach because we had a can that had been recalled and it was empty, we had just finished it,” said Amy Dolan, a mother of three in New Jersey. “And, you know, I’m sitting there thinking, oh my God, what have I given my child?”Abbott, the nation’s biggest infant formula maker, recalled several products earlier this year and halted production at its Michigan manufacturing plant for several months after bacteria was found at the site. Four infants who consumed formula produced at the facility got sick with an infection. Two of those infants died.”It’s…
What you need to know about the U.S. baby formula shortage
The baby formula shortage isn’t over and ending it may ‘take a while’ — here’s a timelineAfter months of empty store shelves, the U.S. is still facing a nationwide shortage of baby formula.In fact, a little over 20% of formula products were out of stock in the six weeks leading up to July 24, according to data collected by market research firm Information Resources Inc. (IRI).There is a pretty clear indication of what—or who—is partly responsible for the shortage. In February, the country’s biggest infant formula maker, Abbott, recalled multiple products and halted production at one of its facilities in Michigan after bacteria was found at the site. As a result, formula products became more and more scarce. And months later, the country was in a full-blown crisis.”It’s kind of like a perfect storm of so many terrible things happening and No. 1, should never have happened in the first place and we could have absolutely prevented it,” Shazi Visram, founder and CEO of Healthybaby, told CNBC.com.Here’s a timeline of exactly how…
Information for Families During the Infant Formula Shortage
Information for Families During the Infant Formula Shortage | Nutrition alert icon Information about finding infant formula can be found here. Due to supply chain issues and the recent recall of several infant formula products, infant formula shortages have been reported. The U.S. government and other partners are working toward ensuring infant formula is safe and available for families across the country. Here are some tips on how to safely feed your child if you are struggling to find infant formula. Please keep in mind this is ONLY for urgent situations during the current infant formula shortage. If your child uses a hypoallergenic or medical specialty infant formula and you are having difficulty getting this infant formula, talk with your child’s doctor about safe alternatives.Children younger than 6 months: Children younger than 6 months should only drink breast milk or infant formula. If you cannot find infant formula, talk with your child’s doctor about what is the best feeding option for your child. Here are…
2022 United States infant formula shortage – Wikipedia
2022 United States infant formula shortage In 2022, the United States experienced a severe shortage of infant formula as a result of the 2021–2022 global supply chain crisis compounded by a large scale product recall after two babies allegedly died after consuming Abbott infant formula,[1][2] import restrictions,[3] and market concentration.[4] Unlike other food products, infant formula often does not have an available and acceptable substitute as a source of nutrition for those who rely on it.[5][6] In addition to infants, the formula recalls affected non-infant medical patients who require nasogastric feeding[6][7] or have certain other conditions.[8][9][10] On May 14, nationwide out-of-stock rates were reported to be 43%, up from 31% two weeks prior; by May 22, they had surged to 70%,[11] where they remained through the start of July.[12] (The Wall Street Journal states that the normal out-of-stock rate is 10%,[13] while other sources say that in the first half of 2021, out-of-stock rates were 2%-8%.[14]) In many places, store shelves were…
How the baby formula shortage financially strains U.S. families
How the baby formula shortage financially strains U.S. families The national shortage of baby formula in the U.S. that began in February of 2022 cast an urgent spotlight on the difficulties parents can face in meeting basic nutritional needs of their babies. Strains on formula supply chains induced by the COVID pandemic were greatly exacerbated by a voluntary formula recall by Abbott Nutrition and the months-long closure of a major formula production facility in Sturgis, Michigan. The crisis not only raised questions about the regulation and market structure of the formula industry but also prompted calls for broader reliance on breastmilk and to increase supports available to breastfeeding parents, especially given the gap between recommendations and practice. WATCH: Baby formula remains scarce despite efforts to boost supply For example, less than a quarter of U.S. infants meet the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life. However, the narrow focus on the supply of infant formula, or on specific AAP recommendations, does not shed light on the full scope of economic tradeoffs families face when deciding how to best ensure nutritional health of their infant. The Facts Deficiencies…
Why is infant formula still hard to find months after the shortage?
The 19th Explains: Why baby formula is still hard to find months after the shortage It’s been nearly 10 months since the largest infant formula manufacturer in the country, Abbott Nutrition, recalled its popular Similac powder and two lines of specialized formula, shutting down one of its plants due to bacterial contamination. The shutdown, which came during a pandemic that exacerbated U.S. supply chain issues, quickly escalated into a national formula supply crisis. Grocery store shelves across the country were empty, and parents, particularly those in rural and low-income parts of the country, scrambled to find ways to feed their babies — some turning to strangers on social media. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new guidance that would make it easier to import formula from other countries and help domestic manufacturers enter the market. Congress passed an emergency spending bill to provide the FDA with more resources. And President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act, a 1950 law first enacted in response to the start of the Korean War, to expedite supplies needed…
Why is there a baby formula shortage in the US, and what can …
Why is there a baby formula shortage in the US, and what can parents do?As the formula shortage continues to grip the US, many parents have been left struggling to access the product they rely on to feed their babies.At the start of May, 43% of baby formula was out of stock at retailers, according to Datasembly, a product data firm. One mother, speaking to the New York Times, described the situation as “a nightmare”.Here’s a look at how the problem started, what parents can do and what the FDA and government are doing to try to end the shortage.What caused the crisis?In February, Abbott Laboratories, maker of popular baby formulas, closed a manufacturing facility in Sturgis, Michigan, after it recalled infant formula products when a federal investigation started after four babies taking the formula developed bacterial infections, two of whom died. Abbott has said there is no link between its formula and the illnesses.Baby formula was already being affected by pandemic-related supply chain problems, but the Michigan plant closure “really exacerbated things”, said Dr Christopher Duggan, director of the Center for Nutrition at Boston children’s hospital.Some…
What's Behind America's Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage?
What’s Behind America’s Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage?Sign up for Derek’s newsletter here.America’s baby-formula shortage has gone from curious inconvenience to full-blown national crisis.In many states, including Texas and Tennessee, more than half of formula is sold out in stores. Nationwide, 40 percent of formula is out of stock—a twentyfold increase since the first half of 2021. As parents have started to stockpile formula, retailers such as Walgreens, CVS, and Target have all moved to limit purchases.The everything shortage isn’t new. But rationing essentials for desperate parents? That’s a twisted turn in the story of American scarcity.Three factors are driving the U.S. baby-formula shortage: bacteria, a virus, and a trade policy.First, the bacteria. After the recent deaths of at least two infants from a rare infection, the Food and Drug Administration investigated Abbott, a major producer of infant formula, and discovered traces of the pathogen Cronobacter sakazakii in a Michigan plant. As a result, the FDA recalled several brands of formula, and parents were advised to not buy or use some formula tied to the plant.Derek Thompson: America is running out of everythingRecalls are common….