The months-long shutdown of factories has led to a nationwide shortage of infant formula. At the time of the recent shutdown, Abbott said it had stopped production of its EleCare to “assess storm damage and clean and sanitize the plant.”
“The agency expects the steps and actions it has taken, along with the resumption of production at Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan facility, means that more and more supplies are in transit or on store shelves,” the FDA said Friday. go ahead. “
Abbott announced that it will restart production of EleCare after reopening, followed by Specialty Formula and Metabolic Formula.
The plant has been closed for months after an FDA inspection found Cronobacter sakazakii, which could be deadly to infants in several regions. Similac, Alimentum and EleCare infant formula made at the plant were recalled, and the shutdown added to shortages caused by supply chain disruptions. For months, families across the U.S. have struggled to find formula for babies and people with specific nutritional needs.
Production had been underway for less than two weeks before the storm shut down.
More than 20 percent of powdered, ready-to-drink and liquid formulas have been out of stock for a month, according to market research firm Information Resources Incorporated (IRI) as of July 3.
Before Abbott Nutrition’s national infant formula recall in February, about 10 percent of infant formula was generally out of stock.
The Biden administration has shipped millions of pounds of milk powder through Operation Flying Formula, but the stock rate of milk powder in particular is even worse.
More than 30% of powdered products were out of stock in the week ended July 3, up slightly from 29% the week before and 27% the week before.
CNN’s Jamie Gumbrecht and Deidre McPhillips contributed to this report.