Infant Formula Update
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U.S. Receives 35 Tons of Emergency Hypoallergenic Baby Formula from Germany
The inaugural shipment of Operation Fly Formula has arrived, supplying enough formula for 9,000 infants and 18,000 toddlers for one week. by Alex Johnson, May 23, 2022
The baby formula crisis has escalated rapidly, and on Sunday, the first of several emergency shipments reached Indianapolis, Indiana, aboard a U.S. military aircraft from Germany. This delivery includes 78,000 pounds of hypoallergenic baby formula; however, it won’t be available on supermarket shelves just yet. Instead, this specialized formula will be allocated to those in most need, particularly babies who cannot tolerate cow’s milk protein. “This is a significant shipment of very specific formula intended for families with children who have allergies that regular formula cannot address,” stated Agriculture Secretary Sarah Thompson during a press conference shortly after the arrival.
This shipment features pallets of Nestlé Health Science products, including Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior formulas. According to a Biden administration official, these supplies will be distributed to hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, and healthcare facilities in regions experiencing the highest demand. Meanwhile, Brian Miller, director of the White House National Economic Council, assured CNN’s State of the Union that consumers should expect to see “more formula in stores starting as early as this week.”
Additionally, the White House announced that a second Operation Fly Formula flight is scheduled to transport “114 pallets of Gerber Good Start Extensive HA infant formula,” another hypoallergenic option for children with cow’s milk protein allergies, later this week. Abbott Nutrition, the company linked to the production of infant formula contaminated with harmful bacteria due to alleged regulatory oversights at its Sturgis, Michigan facility—which produces a quarter of the nation’s formula—has struck an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration to secure necessary ingredients and supplies to expedite formula production. Ironically, this situation is what initiated the supply crisis in the first place. Miller also emphasized the need for more formula producers to prevent any single company from monopolizing the supply chain.
Progressive lawmakers, including representatives Emma Roberts (NY), Mia Kim (Mass.), and Ryan Chen (WA), have urged President Biden to not only tackle the formula shortage but also hold Abbott Nutrition accountable. “The damage caused by corporate greed and industry monopolies cannot be overstated,” said their letter. “In the same month that health hazards were identified and overlooked at Abbott Nutrition’s facility, their sales increased, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic. Abbott Nutrition’s near-monopoly has made Americans more vulnerable to the detrimental impacts of pandemic profiteering.”
For those seeking assistance in locating formula during this shortage, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services provides a list of community resources. For more information on home insemination methods and related topics, check out this post on our other blog, or explore resources like Cleveland Clinic’s IVF and Fertility Preservation podcast.