Why is there a 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

Why is there such a shortage of baby formula?

Answer. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been significant shortages of infant formulas nationwide. Current shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and the recent recall of several baby formula products over contamination concerns.

How long will the 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.

What is being done about the formula shortage?

Cutting Red Tape to Increase Imports. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cutting red tape to increase the supply of safe, high-quality formula through increased imports.

Is the baby formula shortage real?

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.

How can we fix the baby formula shortage?

Allowing more flexibility on imports is a good step, but it only begins to lower barriers to formula imports. A reduction in restrictive tariffs and a permanent redesign of FDA requirements while maintaining safety and effectiveness standards are needed to ensure a more rapid response to future supply problems.

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…

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 “to promote national defense.”  Still, months after the worst point…

With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find …

With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can’t find any?Since the outbreak of COVID-19, there have been significant shortages of infant formulas nationwide. Current shortages have been largely caused by supply chain issues and the recent recall of several baby formula products over contamination concerns.Here are some tips on finding baby formula during the shortage, and what you may safely consider if you absolutely can’t find any.Keep in mind, this advice is strictly during this current URGENT formula shortage. If you have any concerns about your baby’s nutrition, please talk with your pediatrician.What if baby formula is out of stock everywhere I look?Call your pediatrician if you can’t formula you need for your baby. They may have samples in stock, connections to other local organizations or ideas of other places to call, such as your local WIC clinic. Also consider:If you can afford it, buy formula online until store shortages ease. Purchase from well-recognized distributors, grocers, and pharmacies rather than individually sold or auction sites.Check social media groups. There are groups dedicated to infant feeding and formula, and members may have ideas for…

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,”…

Why the Baby Formula Shortage Continues in the US

Why the Baby Formula Shortage Continues in the USEmpty shelves in the baby formula aisle of a store in Pinole, California.Photographer: David Paul Morris/BloombergJuly 15, 2022, 3:20 PM UTCBaby formula, one of the most important items on grocery shelves, continues to be in short supply in many places in the US. Severe scarcity sent families across the country scrambling in May and June. Despite the restarting of the plant at the epicenter of the crisis and a government effort to fly in from abroad the equivalent of millions of bottles of formula, in many states, demand is still outstripping supply. Nationwide, the in-stock figure — measuring the percentage of expected demand that suppliers have available for sale — was 72% for baby formula powder the week ending July 10, a slight improvement from 70% the week prior, according to data from IRI Worldwide. The figure was below 60% in only one state, Alaska, compared with five states the week ending…

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 bare. Delaware, Kansas, and Tennessee were reported to be the hardest-hit states.[13] On May 27, FDA Commissioner…

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…

Severe Baby Formula Shortages Are Affecting Parents

Severe Baby Formula Shortages Are Affecting Parents After months of recalls, supply chain issues, and labor shortages, many parents are struggling to find baby formula right now. Store shelves nationwide are empty, and some retailers are limiting their sale of the infant supplements. Prices have also spiked; according to CBS, the average cost of baby formula is up as much as 18% over the last 12 months. Naturally, the shortage is causing anxiety in parents across the country, and who can blame them?The majority of babies rely on formula in some capacity. Also, some infants need specific types of formula to cope with allergies, sensitivities, or digestive issues—so swapping brands isn’t always easy. Thankfully, relief is on the way. On May 12, the White House announced a plan to combat the formula shortage, which involves relaxing WIC requirements and cracking down on price gauging. Also, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is increasing flexibilities around the importation of infant formula from foreign markets. On May 18, President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act, which will require “suppliers to direct needed resources to infant formula manufacturers…