Parents hunting for baby formula as shortage spans US

[Eugene]

Source: Associated Press

Parents hunting for baby formula as shortage spans US

By MATTHEW PERRONE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH
May 10, 2022

WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents across the U.S. are scrambling to find baby formula because supply disruptions and a massive safety recall have swept many leading brands off store shelves.

Months of spot shortages at pharmacies and supermarkets have been exacerbated by the recall at Abbott, which was forced to shutter its largest U.S. formula manufacturing plant in February due to contamination concerns.

On Monday, White House press secretary Jenn Psaki said the Food and Drug Administration was “working around the clock to address any possible shortages” and will try to expedite imports of foreign baby formula to increase supply.

For now, pediatricians and health workers are urging parents who can’t find formula to contact food banks or doctor’s offices. They warn against watering down formula to stretch supplies or using online DIY recipes.

“For babies who are not being breastfed, this is the only thing they eat,” said Dr. Steven Abrams, of the University of Texas, Austin. “So it has to have all of their nutrition and, furthermore, it needs to be properly prepared so that it’s safe for the smallest infants.”

-snip-

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/covid-science-business-health-d3e32ba9e2381f77c299391e762abe21


Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio, Tuesday, May 10, 2022. Parents across the U.S. are scrambling to find baby formula because supply disruptions and a massive safety recall have swept many leading brands off store shelves. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

[raging moderate]

1. Okay, how can we help?

This is an emergency. What should we all do?

[Fullduplexxx]

2. What can be done ?

[brush]

3. Before baby formula was on grocery shelves...

this was what many did.

Add in 1 can (13 oz.) of evaporated milk and 2 tbsp. of light Karo syrup. Stir until well-blended. Pour into a sterilized half-gallon jar or bottles and store in the refrigerator until needed.

www.hellomotherhood.com/make-baby-formula-karo-syrup-4840860.html

[Shermann]

4. We've made homemade versions of everything else the past two years

This is another inconvenience, not a crisis. Good work!

[vanlassie]

6. Imagine the vast unimaginable difference between that recipe

and the species’ actual milk.

[vanlassie]

7. https://themilkmeg.com/ingredients-in-breastmilk-versus-artificial-breastmilk-formula/#

[brush]

11. And what are the differences in store-bought formula..

from the sepcies' actual milk?

Are you kidding?

[vanlassie]

14. It's nothing to kid about. Human milk (actually the mothers breast) responds to

messages sent via baby’s saliva that baby has been exposed to a pathogen. Mom need not have been present. Moms breast goes to work supplying specific antibodies to the specific germ. Human milk is living cells. Formula is cooked and dead. Formula will sustain life. Sometimes it’s lifesaving. Assuming there are no nursing mothers available to donate. Which there always are….

[brush]

15. And what are they going to do if there's nothing to buy...

let the babies starve? It's only until the supply chain is up and running again. Generations grew up on the evaporated milk formula.

Use common sense.

[vanlassie]

16. I am clearly not saying what they should do now.

“Feed the baby.” That’s what they should do. And recognize the lack of immunity protection means that child is at increased risk of disease and impaired brain growth. AS WERE WE. Not just the ones temporarily given homemade formula, but all formula. And maybe consider the world has become less healthy for our babies if we can’t maintain a dependable and SAFE supply chain of “formula?”

[brush]

17. I still don't get what you're saying by "...but all formula..."

It's not clear if you're recommending breast feeding, "all formula", or a dependable and SAFE supply chain of “formula?”

What is it.

[vanlassie]

18. Well. If we can't guarantee a SAFE and adequate supply of

Formula, and ALL formula is risky, especially with the new pandemic paradigm, I recommend all people be informed immediately of the full facts so they can make more informed decisions about what to feed infants in the future. This will save billions in health costs, and the world will be more likely to weather a supply chain/industrial accident problem for the ones who still need it. But first we might want to consider that women can likely produce much of the extra needed, for a price. The value of mother’s milk is unseen, meaning not taken into consideration as contributing to the gross national product. In other words, women are even more valuable than their male counterparts! We make food. What to do about today’s shortage? If it was my baby I’d find a breastfeeding friend STAT.

[jimfields33]

8. Unfortunately the doctors in the article say not to make your own.

[brush]

9. If it's the last resort and formula can't be purchased...

I doubt mothers will let their babies starve. Millions in generations before manufacturer formula was on shelves did ok.

[Shermann]

10. Given two choices, sure.

Given one choice, the choice is also easy.

[Torchlight]

12. Simplistic. They warn against watering down formula to stretch supplies

or using online DIY recipes. No other prohibitions.

[RussBLib]

5. so Abbott closed a plant in Feb

what? still closed? it's just one damn thing after another.

[vanlassie]

13. Closed due to deadly bacteria in plant.

Cronobacter sakazakii  And salmonella. At least one child death. Happens not infrequently.

[dalton99a]

19. "A small can costs $17 to $18 and lasts three to five days"

And Republicans are forcing people to have babies