A baby formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, which resumed production less than two weeks ago after a month-long shutdown that exacerbated shortages across the country, has closed again after parts of the facility was flooded during a severe storm.
The company that operates the plant, Abbott Nutrition, said Wednesday it was forced to halt production of its EleCare specialty formula at Sturgis, one of its five manufacturing facilities, after bad weather on Monday. move through southwest Michigan.
In February, Abbott closed the plant and withdrew batches of its Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas after the Food and Drug Administration received four consumer complaints about formula-related bacterial infections.
On Wednesday, the company said it was assessing storm damage and cleaning up the plant, which would delay production and distribution by a few weeks, but that it had sufficient supplies from EleCare and most of its specialties and metabolic formulas. to meet demand until new formula available.
Read more about baby formula shortages
- They understand the shortage: with only a handful of companies making infant formula for the U.S. market, the shutdown of a plant at Abbott Laboratories had a huge effect.
- Premature Babies: Many newborns who spend time in the NICU depend on the specialized formula to thrive once they return home. As long as the scarcity continues, her parents find her nowhere.
- Pumping for the cause: In New York City, scarcity has caused a great deal of voluntary effort, with some mothers donating their excess breast milk to help other parents.
- An emotional toll: Scarcity is forcing many new mothers to work harder to breastfeed, and some are even looking for ways to start again after they have stopped.
“These products are being delivered to consumers who need it in coordination with healthcare professionals,” he said.
Robert M. Califf, the FDA commissioner, said the agency had been informed of the shutdown, but that it was not expected to have much of an impact, given the increase in formula imports and the production of Abbott and other manufacturers.
“While this is an unfortunate setback and a reminder that natural weather events can also cause unforeseen supply chain disruptions, I want to reassure consumers that the work of the entire government to increase supply means we will have a product more than enough to meet current demand, ”he said in a statement on Twitter.
He made similar comments at a Senate committee hearing Thursday, saying the FDA was working closely with Abbott to restart the plant “as soon as we can.”
The storm cut off electricity and caused wind damage, and the city’s municipal airport recorded 1.5 inches of rain, the Sturgis Journal reported.
The plant shutdown was the latest turnaround in the infant formula shortage in the United States, which began earlier this year, when pandemic-related supply chain problems, including shortage of some ingredients, made it difficult for parents to find formula.
After the February shutdown, Abbott said it increased production at other manufacturing plants in the United States and one in Ireland.
Abbott and other producers have increased production as the government eases import regulations. “This means that the total amount of formula available, even before the Sturgis plant returns to production, exceeds the demand for formula before withdrawal,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Califf.
Navigating the shortage of infant formula in the US
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A growing problem. The shortage of infant formula across the country, caused in part by supply chain problems and exacerbated by a withdrawal from baby food manufacturer Abbott Nutrition, has left parents confused and worried. Here are some ways to handle this uncertainty:
Find the formula. If your baby’s formula has not been affected by the withdrawal, but is not yet available, you can try calling local stores to ask when they expect it to be back in stock. You can also buy it online. If your baby has a special formula, contact your doctor – they may have samples in stock.
Choosing a new formula. If you normally use a brand name formula, look for the generic version. Alternatively, look for a new formula that matches the usual ingredients. If your baby is taking a special formula for health reasons, check with your pediatrician before changing.
Transition to a new product. Ideally, you want to change your child gradually. Start by mixing three-quarters of your regular formula with a quarter of your new formula, and gradually eliminate the old product. If you can’t make the transition gradually because you’ve run out of your usual formula, that’s fine, although you may notice more gas or worries during the transition.
What not to do. If you can’t find your baby’s usual formula, don’t make it your own: Homemade formulas are often nutritionally inadequate and run the risk of becoming contaminated. Don’t try to “stretch” your formula by adding extra water and don’t buy it in unverified online markets like Craigslist. For a baby under 1 year old, do not use infant formula.
On June 4, Abbott said he had resumed production of EleCare at the Sturgis plant for a scheduled release to consumers around June 20 and was “working hard” to restart production of Similac and other formulas. . But that moment seems unclear after the flood.
“Once the plant is disinfected and production resumed, we will resume production of EleCare, followed by specialized and metabolic formulas,” the company said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon. “In parallel, we will work to restart Similac production at the plant as soon as possible.”
The shortage of infant formula had threatened to become a political and public health disaster. President Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to increase production and authorized the use of Defense Department aircraft for “Operation Formula Fly.”
In May, the first of a series of international shipments of infant formulas was shipped to the United States under the program, to speed up imports and start stocking in stores. The seventh shipment takes place Thursday when the Nestlé formula is flown from Switzerland to Louisville, Kentucky, the White House said.