{"id":37495,"date":"2022-06-05T11:11:33","date_gmt":"2022-06-05T11:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/baby-formula-plant-that-shut-down-and-fueled-crisis-restarts-production\/"},"modified":"2022-06-05T11:11:33","modified_gmt":"2022-06-05T11:11:33","slug":"baby-formula-plant-that-shut-down-and-fueled-crisis-restarts-production","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/baby-formula-plant-that-shut-down-and-fueled-crisis-restarts-production\/","title":{"rendered":"Baby Formula Plant That Shut Down and Fueled Crisis Restarts Production"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Abbott Nutrition, the company that fueled a national shortage of baby formula when it shut down a leading production plant in February because of contamination concerns, said on Saturday that the site has restarted producing EleCare and other formulas.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The restarting of the plant in Sturgis, Mich., Which was the result of an agreement with the federal Food and Drug Administration, renewed hope that the formula shortage that has sent stressed parents scrambling would ease.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Out-of-stock rates had soared to about 74 percent at stores across the country as of the week ending May 28, according to Datasembly, which tracks retail data.  The crisis, which had been building for months and stems from pandemic supply issues, was worsened by the plant&#8217;s closure.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In a statement, Abbott said EleCare would be released to consumers around June 20 and that it was \u201cworking hard\u201d to restart production of Similac and other formulas.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">&#8220;We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is getting high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families across America,&#8221; the company said.  &#8220;We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div>\n<section role=\"complementary\" aria-labelledby=\"styln-toplinks-title\" class=\"css-1ksw8n\">\n<h2 id=\"styln-toplinks-title\" class=\"css-1qcwmls\">Read More on the Baby Formula Shortage<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In February, Abbott announced it was voluntarily recalling three types of infant formula after four babies who were fed formula manufactured at the Sturgis plant became sick with bacterial infections.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The FDA had received three consumer complaints about Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause severe, life-threatening infections or inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine.  Abbott has said that there was no \u201cconclusive evidence\u201d to link the company&#8217;s formulas to the illnesses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">Dr. Robert M. Califf, the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, told a House panel last month that the Sturgis plant had a leaking roof, water pooling on the floor and cracks in production equipment that allowed bacteria to get in and persist.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">He detailed \u201cegregiously unsanitary\u201d conditions but he also acknowledged that his agency was too slow in addressing problems at the plant.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In a statement on Saturday, the FDA said that it had investigators at the Sturgis plant for several days to observe flooring, roofing and equipment improvements made to the facility.  Abbott reported that the facility tested negative for Cronobacter, the agency said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">A consent decree the company signed with the government provides a series of new safeguards, including hiring a qualified expert to oversee improvements at the plant and notifying the FDA if it finds any contamination.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The agency on Saturday said the steps it has taken, and the restarting of the Sturgis plant, &#8220;will mean more and more infant formula is either on the way to or already on store shelves moving forward.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The plant shutdown exacerbated an existing supply crisis, as parents rushed to stock up on formula, sometimes driving for hours, as networks formed on social media to help connect them with dwindling supplies.<\/p>\n<section role=\"complementary\" class=\"css-1iixf4w\" aria-label=\"Navigating the Baby Formula Shortage in the U.S.\">\n<h2 class=\"css-ba3d02\">Navigating the Baby Formula Shortage in the US<\/h2>\n<hr\/>\n<div id=\"storyline-context-container\" aria-live=\"polite\" aria-atomic=\"true\"><span class=\"css-1ly73wi e1tej78p0\">Card 1 of 6<\/span><\/p>\n<div data-scrolled-index=\"0\" class=\"swiper css-1goft0b\">\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"false\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>A growing problem.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>A nationwide shortage of baby formula &#8211; triggered in part by supply-chain issues and loved by a recall by the baby food manufacturer Abbott Nutrition &#8211; has left parents confused and concerned.  Here are some ways to manage this uncertainty:<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Finding formula.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>If your baby&#8217;s formula was not affected by the recall, but is still not available, you can try calling local stores to ask when they expect to get it back in stock.  You may also be able to buy it online.  If your baby is on special formula, reach out to your doctor&#8217;s office: They might have samples in stock.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Picking a new formula.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>If you typically use a name-brand formula, look for its generic version.  Alternatively, seek a new formula that matches the ingredients listed in your usual one.  If your baby is on a special formula for health reasons, check with your pediatrician before switching.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>Transitioning to a new product.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>Ideally, you will want to switch your child gradually.  Start by mixing three quarters of your usual formula with one quarter of the new one and gradually phase out the old product.  If you can&#8217;t transition gradually because you&#8217;ve run out of your usual formula, that&#8217;s OK, although you might notice more gassiness or fussiness during the transition.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1vt1os1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"css-1novq15\" data-testid=\"context-card\">\n<p class=\"itemClass\"><strong>What not to do.<!-- --> <\/strong><span>If you can&#8217;t find your baby&#8217;s usual formula, don&#8217;t make your own &#8211; homemade formulas are often nutritionally inadequate and at risk of contamination.  Don&#8217;t try to \u201cstretch\u201d your formula by adding extra water, and don&#8217;t buy it from unvetted online marketplaces like Craigslist.  For a baby less than 1 year old, don&#8217;t use toddler formula.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">With store shelves bare in some communities, some parents have been so desperate that they have fed their infants powdered oatmeal cereal and fruit juice, even though pediatricians recommend formula or breast milk as crucial sources of nutrition from birth to a baby&#8217;s first birthday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">In the short term, imports from Europe and elsewhere announced by the White House are expected to play a greater role in easing the shortage than the Sturgis plant restarting, Steven A. Abrams, a professor of pediatrics at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, said on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">The Abbott plant&#8217;s reopening will be a relief to parents of severely allergic babies because EleCare is geared toward them, Dr. Abrams said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"css-53u6y8\">\n<p class=\"css-at9mc1 evys1bk0\">&#8220;What most families are facing at the grocery store, the importing of the formulas that&#8217;s going to occur from British, Australian and Mexican sources, will have a lot bigger impact,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"css-ew4tgv\" aria-label=\"companion column\"\/><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Abbott Nutrition, the company that fueled a national shortage of baby formula when it shut down a leading production plant in February because of contamination concerns, said on Saturday that the site has restarted producing EleCare and other formulas. The restarting of the plant in Sturgis, Mich., Which was the result of an agreement with &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/baby-formula-plant-that-shut-down-and-fueled-crisis-restarts-production\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Baby Formula Plant That Shut Down and Fueled Crisis Restarts Production<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static01.nyt.com\/images\/2022\/06\/05\/multimedia\/04xp-abbott-print\/04xp-abbott-01-facebookJumbo.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37495"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37495\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}