Parents who use infant formula to feed their babies are struggling to find it. That can be an absolutely terrifying situation for parents who have a baby that needs a specific kind of formula, due to health reasons. The shortage also affects parents of babies that cannot latch, moms who work at places that don’t give them a room to pump in, and families with two dads that feed their babies formula.
Why is this happening? The problem started with a voluntary recall from Abbott Nutrition in March of 2022. There were reports that three brands of formula they produce – Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare, had received four consumer complaints of bacterial infections related to the formulas. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also reported the voluntary recall.
Abbott Nutrition posts update on its website about their formula. On April 15, 2022, the company wrote: “Abbott is working closely with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to restart operations at the Sturgis, Mich., facility. We continue to make progress on corrective actions toward addressing items related to the recent recall. In the meantime, we are working to increase the supply of infant formula by prioritizing infant formula production at our facilities that provide product to the U.S. market.”
Abbott Nutrition states that it has an FDA-registered plant in Cootehill, Ireland, where the company has increased the volume of Similac Advance powder formula produced for the U.S. They are air-shipping product from that facility to the U.S. daily and the product is being regularly restocked.
The formula is there – but not evenly distributed. The New York Times reported that several major retailer eager to preserve inventory are limiting how much baby formula their customers can buy.
According to The New York Times:
CVS said in a statement that “following supplier challenges and increased customer demand,” buyers will be limited to three baby formula products per purchase in stores and online.
Walgreens said it has also imposed a three-item limit in an attempt “to help improve inventory.”
Target said it had a four-item limit online but no in-store limits.
Costco has various caps on formula listed on its website.
Brian Ditmeier, the senior director of public policy at the National WIC Association, said “The unprecedented scope of this infant formula recall has serious consequences for babies and new parents.” The nonprofit provides nutritional assistance for women, infants, and children across the country.
According to The New York Times, there is at least one Facebook group called “baby formula for sale”, and parents who are using groups to alert one another of restocked inventories of formula or bargains.
Related Articles on Families.com:
FDA Issues Recall on Baby Formula
When Your Baby Has Food Allergies