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The news has been overwhelming about the baby formula shortage. If you have a child under the age of 1 and are dealing with this, like I am, I know how stressful, scary, and frustrating the shortage is.
You are not in this alone. MomsRising is here to help share information with you about how to best feed your baby during this formula shortage emergency, give you trustworthy information and updates, and even show you how to take action to create real change.
Here’s what’s going on: In late-February the FDA announced the largest recall of baby formula in recent history after two babies died and four infants tested positive for a dangerous bacteria after consuming certain brands of infant formula made at Abbott Labs in Sturgis, MI. [1] The recall led to a massive shortage of popular baby formula brands around the country, leading some retailers to start rationing the amount of formula parents can buy. [2] It’s being reported that nearly 43% of popular baby formula brands, including Similac, may be sold out at retailers across the country. [3] And over the weekend, the situation got worse as it became a major news story and people started to panic purchase formula.
The Biden Administration has started to take positive steps forward to address the situation and Congress is also moving quickly to pass emergency spending legislation to assist the FDA in importing more formula safely from other countries and to lessen the restriction on WIC recipients. [4]
We will have more information for you in the coming days on how you can help us get trusted information out to other parents on the dos and don’ts of what to do during the formula shortage, what to expect from the shortage in the next month or so, and ways you can take action and share your story.
We know feeding your child is the most fundamental role you can play as a parent or caregiver. Right now, that is challenging for far too many of us. With your help, MomsRising is having conversations with the top decision makers in our government to make sure they know what parents are dealing with on the ground and that they come up with quick solutions to put an end to this crisis ASAP.
We’ve got your back and we will get through this crisis together!
P.S. To read our most recent blog and update go here. https://www.momsrising.org/blog/formula-update-the-bottle-is-starting-to-look-half-full\
References:
[1] https://www.axios.com/2022/03/01/abbott-recall-baby-formula-similac
[2] https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/baby-formula-shortage-forces-cvs-health-limit-purchases-2022-05-10
[3] https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-us-baby-formula-shortage-explained
[4] https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/05/12/fact-sheet-president-biden-announces-additional-steps-to-address-infant-formula-shortage
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of MomsRising.org.
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