COVID-19-related supply chain challenges, workforce issues, hoarding parents, and an Abbott Laboratories safety recall have made it difficult for retailers to stock baby formula, and some retailers have even placed limits on formula orders. According to Bloomberg, a report from the Food and Drug Administration indicates federal inspectors discovered the potential for baby formula to become contaminated at an Abbott Laboratories plant in September 2021, months before the February 2022 recall.
Parents have been dealing with the national baby formula shortage for months, and Congress will investigate the matter later this month. While Abbott is working to resume production at one facility and ramp up production at others, importing formula from overseas producers is likely too challenging due to labeling requirements.
