SALT LAKE CITY — Traveling from store to store to stare at empty shelves, scouring Facebook groups and spending hours on the phone every day has become a part of many parents’ lives nationwide. It’s no different for Utah parents who are also desperate to find infant formula.
The baby formula shortage has been months in the making with stores struggling to keep shelves stocked. In February, one of the largest suppliers of infant formula, Abbot Nutrition, had its production practically halted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The halt in production came after three brands of powdered baby formulas produced by the company were found to have potential bacterial infections.
Four infants drinking powdered formulas produced by the plant were hospitalized with Cronobacter sakazakii, with two of the infants dying. After a recall was issued, the agency advised parents not to buy or use certain batches of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas.
“We have been addressing the formula situation all through COVID because there was panic buying in the beginning, that left our shelves depleted,” said JoDell Geilmann-Parke, Utah Women, Infants and Children program vendor coordinator. “We’ve kind of been in recovery mode ever since the beginning of COVID.”
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Written by ASHLEY FREDDE, KSL.com
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