Abbott Nutrition, the company that fed the national baby formula shortage when it closed a leading production plant in February due to pollution issues, said Saturday the site has resumed production of EleCare and other formulas.
The restart of the Sturgis, Michigan plant, which was the result of an agreement with the Federal Food and Drug Administration, renewed hopes that the shortage of formulas that has caused stressed parents to be reduced .
Out-of-stock rates had skyrocketed to 74% in stores across the country in the week ending May 28, according to Datasembly, which tracks retail data. The crisis, which had been raging for months due to pandemic supply problems, was exacerbated by the closure of the plant.
In a statement, Abbott said EleCare would be released to consumers around June 20 and was “working hard” to restart production of Similac and other formulas.
“We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is to get a safe, high quality formula in the hands of American families,” the company said. “We will expand production as soon as we can and meet all requirements.”
Read more about baby formula shortages
In February, Abbott announced that he was voluntarily withdrawing three types of infant formula after four formula-fed babies at the Sturgis plant became ill with bacterial infections.
The FDA had received three consumer complaints about Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause serious and life-threatening infections or inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine. Abbott said there was “no conclusive evidence” linking the company’s formulas to the disease.
Dr. Robert M. Califf, the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, told a House panel last month that the Sturgis plant had a leaky roof, water accumulated in the ground and cracks in the production equipment that allowed bacteria to enter and persist.
He detailed “extremely unhealthy” conditions, but also acknowledged that his agency was too slow to address the plant’s problems.
In a statement Saturday, the FDA said it had investigators at the Sturgis plant for several days to observe improvements to the flooring, roofing and equipment made at the facility. Abbott reported that the facility tested negative for Cronobacter, the agency said.
A consent decree the company signed with the government offers a number of new safeguards, including hiring a qualified expert to monitor plant improvements and notifying the FDA if it finds any contamination.
The agency said on Saturday that the steps it has taken and the restart of the Sturgis plant “will mean that more and more children’s formulas are on the way or are already on store shelves”.
The shutdown of the plant exacerbated an existing supply crisis as parents rushed to stock up on formula, sometimes driving for hours, as networks were formed on social media to help them connect them with dwindling supplies.
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 withdrawal, but is not yet available, you can try calling local stores to ask when they expect to return it. 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 your 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 restlessness 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.
With the shelves of nude stores in some communities, some parents have been so desperate that they have fed their babies oatmeal powder and fruit juice, although pediatricians recommend formula or breast milk as crucial sources. of nutrition from birth to the baby’s first birthday.
In the short term, imports from Europe and elsewhere announced by the White House are expected to play a more important role in alleviating the shortage than the restart of the Sturgis plant, Steven A. Abrams, professor of pediatrics at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, he said Saturday.
The reopening of the Abbott plant will be a relief for parents of severely allergic babies because EleCare is geared toward them, Dr. Abrams said.
“What most families face in the grocery store, the importation of formulas that will come from British, Australian and Mexican sources, will have a much bigger impact,” he said.