US tries to get grip on infant formula shortages with Abbott Nutrition and Bellamy’s Organic imports

29 Jun 2022 --- As the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) implements its greater flexibility strategy to curb US infant formula shortages, imports from Ireland-based Abbott Nutrition and Australian-based Bellamy’s Organic are set to begin in July.

Ireland-based Abbott Nutrition will supply the US with its Similac Advance 2’-FL Stage 1 infant formula, with an estimated 18,677 cans – 535,000 full-size, 8 oz bottles.

Meanwhile, Bellamy’s Organic will export Bellamy’s Organic Organic Infant Formula Step 1 (0 to 6 months) and Bellamy’s Organic Organic Follow-On Formula Step 2 (6 to12 months) to the US.

The total quantity of Bellamy’s Organic infant formula imported to the US is 696,000 cans – approximately 21 million full-size, 8 oz bottles. Bellamy’s Organic’s product rollout will be available from July and “over the next several months,” the FDA notes.

Amid a national crisis of infant formula shortages, price gouging has proliferated with a growing black market.

Clueless administration?
Administration officials have been piecing together data about infant formula retail stocks from the federal government, formula suppliers, retailers, and private market research businesses to respond to the issue.

The imports from the two companies are part of the FDA’s additional steps to boost infant formula availability in the US. Currently, the FDA lacks the authority to compel private companies to provide information about their supply.

However, the agency is understood to be lobbying Congress for such authority, claiming it will enable officials to react more effectively to future occurrences like the Abbott plant shutdown and formula recall.

Due to this, the government failed to foresee severe shortages.

“Sounds like they haven’t a clue as to what’s going on. Go to Costco, go to Wal-Mart. Look at the shelves,” says senator Richard Burr.

Importing infant formula
Bellamy’s Organic’s and Abbott Nutrition’s products will be available at major and specialty retailers. The latter’s products will also be available at online outlets, including Similac, Abbottstore, Amazon, Walmart and Target.

NutritionInsight previously reported on the greater flexibility strategy that allows businesses that do not typically distribute their infant formula products in the US effectively and safely.

Regarding the importation of infant formula products, the FDA is reviewing their nutritional adequacy and safety.The FDA previously released advice outlining it would not object to the importation of specific infant formula products intended for a foreign market or to the distribution in the US of goods made here for export to foreign nations.

This recommendation may also provide manufacturers of infant formula products more flexibility, allowing them to raise the volume of domestically manufactured goods for the US market.

Reeling from Abbott’s impact
In February, Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis plant in Michigan recalled several products due to an FDA investigation that found traces of Cronobacter sakazakii, following reports of illness and death linked to the company’s infant formula. As a result of this, the company is currently facing lawsuits.

As the effects of the shortages were amplified, the FDA greenlighted Abbott to restart the production of baby formula in June at its Sturgis, Michigan, US, plant.

Nonetheless, ten days later, the company ceased production of EleCare specialized formula after flooding at its Sturgis facility in Michigan, US, caused by intense thunderstorms. Subsequently, the FDA announced it is investigating another death potentially linked to Abbott infant formula.

Edited by Nicole Kerr