The nearly empty shelves of this New Orleans, Louisiana pharmacy on May 16, 2022 are a testament to the infant milk shortage that has been affecting the entire country for several months. CHRIS GRANGER/AP
The announcement was highly anticipated to resolve a severe supply crisis that has been going on for several months. The American company Abbott announced on Saturday June 4 that it is reopening a large plant in Michigan whose prolonged closure is causing a shortage of infant milk that is affecting the entire United States.
The world’s biggest power was already struggling with supply issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic when Abbott announced in February a recall of products suspected of causing the deaths of two infants and the closure of its factory.
Also read: Article reserved for our subscribers There is a shortage of baby milk in the United States
Serious hygiene problems
The manufacturer says that after meeting the conditions set by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the factory will start selling one of its products, hypoallergenic milk EleCare, starting June 20. Abbott, which controls 40% of the baby milk market in the United States, said it was “working hard” to also resume production of another brand, Similac, which is very popular with American families, as well as the rest of its range.
“We understand the urgent need for infant formula, and our top priority is to provide families across the United States with safe, high-quality milk,” the company’s statement said.
The FDA had described serious safety problems in the affected factory. “Frankly, the results of the inspection [du site] were shocking,” said agency head Robert Califf during his congressional hearing on March 25. The group itself was baffled in excuses at the time of that hearing.
To address the shortage, the Biden administration, which has been accused of responding too late, set up an airlift to import tons of foreign-produced baby milk on military planes.