Finding infant formula on U.S. supermarket shelves has become increasingly difficult. Following hospitalizations of several newborns amid this crisis, the government invoked a key law to address the shortage.
Infant formula has made headlines before. In 2021, a company announced the first human breast milk from cultured cells. A 2019 study suggested breastfeeding could reduce childhood obesity risk by 25% compared to formula. As reported by Business Insider on May 22, 2022, a shortage of baby formula hit the U.S. several months prior.
Parents are struggling to find it in supermarkets and stores. The primary cause: the closure of an Abbott factory, a leading producer. COVID-19 led to staffing shortages and supply chain disruptions. Tragically, this has impacted health: four infants were hospitalized in South Carolina.
Physicians at the Medical University of South Carolina attributed the newborns' admissions to nutritional deficiencies. Similar cases occurred in Atlanta, Georgia, and Memphis, Tennessee. Pediatric dietitians are formulating custom solutions for affected children. For now, the safest option is ordering online, though prices have surged, straining family budgets.
On May 18, 2022, the White House announced President Joe Biden's invocation of the Defense Production Act (DPA). This law directs companies to prioritize key ingredients for infant formula, aiming to ramp up production and accelerate supply chains.
