The Baby Formula Shortage Is Getting Worse

There is a worldwide shortage of baby formula. This has led to the prices going up and families being forced to find other sources for their babies’ nutrition.

The “baby formula shortage 2022” is a problem that has been present for a while. The baby formula shortage is getting worse and will continue to get worse as the years go on.

In the first half of 2021, the out-of-stock rate for infant formula was between 2% and 8%, but it started to rise dramatically in July. According to Datasembly, the out-of-stock rate increased to 31% between November 2021 and early April 2022.

According to the data, that rate jumped by 9 percentage points in only three weeks in April, and currently stands at 40%. During the week beginning April 24, more than half of infant formula was totally sold out in six states: Iowa, South Dakota North Dakota, Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee, according to Datasembly.

And, despite the fact that seven states had 40-50 percent of infant formula items out of stock as of early April, 26 states are currently experiencing supply issues.

Supply chain concerns, product recalls, and historic inflation have all exacerbated the problem, according to Datasembly CEO Ben Reich. “Unfortunately, given the category’s extraordinary level of volatility, we expect infant formula to remain one of the most impacted goods in the market.”

Customers will be limited to three toddler and baby formulas each transaction, according to CVS and Walgreens. In a statement to CNN Business, Walgreens stated, “We continue to work tirelessly with our supplier partners to best satisfy consumer requests.”

Target has restricted infant formula orders to four units per client for online transactions, according to a spokeswoman. According to Target, there is no restriction to the amount of units that may be purchased in person.

Customers uploaded photographs on Social Media showing Walmart placing similar restrictions on infant formula purchases, while Walmart would not clarify whether the regulation was countrywide. Images obtained with CNN Business show empty shelves where infant formula should be, as well as a notice stating that each purchaser was only permitted five containers.

A request for comment from CNN Business was not immediately returned.

Whistleblower alerted FDA to alleged safety lapses at baby formula plant months before recalls, complaint shows

The closing of an Abbott Nutrition factory in Sturgis, Michigan, by the Food and Drug Administration has compounded the shortfall. Abbott is a leading manufacturer of infant formula.

The US Food and Drug Administration recalled three brands of the company’s powdered infant formulae in February owing to the possibility of bacterial illnesses, including Salmonella. Parents should avoid buying or using specific batches of Abbott’s Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered newborn formulas.

Months before the recall, a former Abbott Nutrition employee submitted a whistleblower complaint with the FDA, detailing their worries that the business was concealing safety issues at its Sturgis, Mich. factory. Four babies who drank the formula were sick with unusual diseases caused by Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria. The formulas made at the facility were recalled. According to the lawsuit, two babies perished.

The recall only impacted batches of formulas made at and delivered from Abbott’s Sturgis, Mich. plant, according to an Abbott representative, and no other Abbott products have tested positive for Salmonella or other infections so far.

For many parents, finding conventional formula has become impossible, and they’ve gone to remarkable lengths to get even a single can or bottle. Due to the widespread scarcity, specialized formula is even more difficult to come by. Parents are traveling to other states to try their luck, and many are calling for assistance on social media begging friends to share or trade any spare supplies they may have.

Abbott said in a statement to CNN on Saturday that it is working closely with the FDA to reopen its Michigan factory.

“As we seek to resolve problems linked to the current recall, we will continue to make progress on remedial measures and will take further steps. In the interim, we’re trying to boost baby formula supply by prioritizing infant formula production at our plants that serve the US market “In a statement to CNN Business, Abbott added.

The “baby formula shortage is getting worse” article talks about the reasons for the shortage. The main reason appears to be that people are buying more expensive brands of baby formula. Reference: baby formula shortage reason .