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Why do we have a baby formula shortage? In September 2021, an infant in Minnesota given formula manufactured in Abbott's Sturgis factory was diagnosed with Cronobacter sakazakii, a potentially lethal bacteria.

"We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements." "We're also working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can," the company said in a June 4 release.

Some stores, including CVS and Walgreens, have limited customers to three formula purchases per visit.  The crisis has also fueled formula hoarding, which has made the deficit worse, along with reports of price gouging.

Russia attempted to deny it had hit the mall - suggesting it had fired at nearby military targets including a factory and railway - and that 'collateral' damage had been caused by a fire that spread to the shopping centre.

"If your baby is allergic to standard formulas and you need a broken-down formula, then it's critical that you stick to that same type of formula," Steven Abelowitz, medical director of Coastal Kids Pediatrics in Orange County, California, told CNET previously.

As the infections were under investigation, the FDA received a report in October from an ex-employee alleging poor sanitation standards at the factory and the doctoring of records to hide inadequate quality checks.

Food and Drug Commissioner Robert Califf called the closure "an unfortunate setback," but said ramped-up production by Abbott and other manufacturers elsewhere, as well as increased imports, meant its impact would not be major.

Changing formulas suddenly can cause digestive issues, and babies with allergies or certain medical conditions require specific formulas. Some mothers or babies have difficulty breastfeeding, and infants may be given formula to encourage weight gain.

"The families who have fewer resources, have fewer options, who aren't able to pay premium prices are going to be more at risk," Ann Kellams, board president of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, told Vox.

And by six months, 75% of babies receive some formula, according to the CDC. Why is the formula shortage such a big deal? Less than half of newborns in the US are breastfed exclusively in the first three months of life, according to the CDC, and one in five are given formula in the first few days.

The first batches of Nestlé formula arrived from Switzerland on May 23, bringing nearly 1.5 million 8-ounce bottles of Alfamino Infant, Alfamino Junior and Gerber Good Start Extensive HA, all of which are hypoallergenic varieties for children with cow's milk protein allergy.

"Other producers also continue to make formula at higher-than-average rates, and we continue to exercise flexibility to import additional formula." "Abbott has been exceeding the monthly quantity of formula that it produced in 2021 - all while the Sturgis facility is out of production," Califf said.

In a May 16 statement, Abbott said it conducts microbiological testing on products before distribution "and no Abbott formula distributed to consumers tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii or Salmonella." It added that an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no link between Abbott formulas and infant illnesses.

Just weeks after Abbott Nutrition restarted production of baby formula at its plant in Sturgis, Michigan, the company announced Wednesday that massive flooding in the region has forced it to temporarily close the facility again.

Abbot restarted production of its EleCare and other specialty formulas on June 4 and, at the time, said it expected them to be available around June 20. Formulas for infants with special conditions that make them unable to consume traditional formula were being prioritized at the factory. When will the shortage end?

At least four more babies given formula from the Sturgis facility fell sick in the following months, three with Cronobacter sakazakii and one with Salmonella newport. Ultimately, two infants in Ohio died from Cronobacter infection. Another baby was hospitalized for three weeks before recovering.

"Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains came through southwestern Michigan on Monday evening, resulting in high winds, hail, power outages and flood damage throughout the area," Abbott said in a statement Wednesday.

After an FDA inspection of the facility in February, Abbott voluntarily recalled a number of batches of its Similac, Alimentum and EleCare infant formula brands. Abbott also ceased production at the factory.

Individual states dictate which brand of formula is covered by WIC, and Abbott Nutrition's Similac formula, the leading brand in the US, is one of the major suppliers to the WIC program. The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, a federal program commonly known as WIC, provides food assistance to low-income families.

Always consult a physician or other qualified health provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or health objectives. The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as health or medical advice.