As the infant formula crisis continues, the Biden administration is ramping up efforts to ensure families can provide for their infants. During a press conference, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Alex Thompson detailed the government’s initiatives aimed at alleviating the crisis, including the launch of a new resource to help families locate formula in their vicinity.
Dr. Thompson confirmed that Abbott Nutrition, the company at the center of the formula shortage, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is expected to reopen its Sturgis, Michigan facility within weeks. The reopening process is anticipated to take about two weeks, followed by an additional three weeks to return to full production capacity.
President Biden is also engaging with major retailers such as Target and Walmart, as well as formula manufacturers like Gerber, to expedite the supply chain. He has invoked the Defense Production Act, a law from 1950, which grants the president broad powers to direct companies to enhance manufacturing efforts during crises. Additionally, Biden has initiated “Operation Fly Formula,” allowing the Health and Human Services Department and the Department of Agriculture to utilize Defense Department aircraft to bring in formula from abroad, provided it meets U.S. health and safety standards.
The White House acknowledges that these measures will take time to yield results, largely due to the closure of the Abbott Nutrition plant. This closure was followed by a significant recall of several infant formula brands linked to bacterial infections, which resulted in hospitalizations for at least five infants and two fatalities. White House Communications Director Sarah Johnson pointed out that ongoing supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have further complicated the situation.
It remains unclear how the crisis escalated to this level, as parents and caregivers across the nation continue to grapple with empty shelves and dwindling supplies. The new national formula resource will provide information on local stores and food banks that have formula available, as well as guidance on safety practices, such as avoiding the dilution of formula or prematurely switching to other types of milk. However, the platform does not facilitate connections between those who have formula and those who are in need of it.
It is disheartening that in a country with ample resources, parents and caregivers are left anxious about feeding their babies. We can only hope these initiatives will effectively alleviate the burden soon.
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Summary:
The Biden administration is undertaking measures to address the ongoing infant formula shortage, including the imminent reopening of Abbott Nutrition’s plant and the launch of resources to assist families in locating formula. While these efforts are underway, the crisis has left many parents struggling with low supplies and empty shelves.