Working on baby formula shortage
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WORLAND – Like a baby’s temper tantrum, the meltdown in the infant formula market has been building for quite some time.
Abbott, one of two companies responsible for the shortage, is the company that makes Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas. They recalled many of their infant formula products and closed its Michigan plant in February after reports of bacterial infections in four infants.
According to a press release on the Abbott website, Abbott Laboratory reached an agreement Monday, May 16 with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and announced that production could begin in about two weeks. Formula could be on the shelves in as soon as six to eight weeks.
The shortage hasn’t skipped over the local area, either. According to Worland Blair’s co-owner, Brandon Yule, Blair’s has been running low on sensitive and soy Similac formulas.
“So right now, we’ve got a pretty solid supply of Similac Advanced, which is the blue label that most babies are able to eat. The other ones that they’re having struggles with, the babies with the allergens, the Similac Soy, that’s been more difficult. If we order in 10, we’re lucky to get one because of difficulty in the market,” Yule said.
“The days of going to the shelf and ordering it and having it come in, it’s more complex than that now. Now what we’re having to do is work really close with our warehouse, and with the procurement manager at the warehouse. And he’s actually overriding some of the allocations, they’re trying to make sure every store gets something rather than one store gets a bunch and everyone else gets nothing. So we’re working closely with him and as he sees these [purchase orders] arriving, a little bit more than the metro areas. So we’re getting more than the cities are getting, as far as that goes. Just because of our rural-ness and the draw from the outside communities to come in and get some formula. But just like everything else, if a producer can’t ship it out, we can’t get it here.”
Yule mentioned that Similac’s competitor, Enfamil has been focused on only providing a couple of items rather than their sensitive, the soy and the neurological, just as some examples.
“There’s a whole bunch of different ones they can provide as a company. They’re trying to find where the gaps are in the formula market right now and fill those gaps.”
Yule warned people not to panic buy formula, as they haven’t stopped making formula.
He added that he’s being contacted from people from places as far as Casper looking for formula. Yule said the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program is reaching out to as far as Gillette to help people find what they need.
According to Kim Deti, Wyoming Department of Health public information officer, the Wyoming WIC Program has started expanding its coverage options after facing the baby formula shortage stemming from a national recall and supply chain disruptions.
Deti said that if it gets to the point where someone can’t find formula, they should call their doctor or look at a reputable source, such as American Academy of Pediatrics for healthy alternatives, as there are health risks in some online alternatives.
