FOOD Desperate parents can't find baby formula amid national shortage & stores ration cans after infection killed baby and caused huge recall

[hunybee]

Mothers find barren shelves as they search for baby formula

Mothers across the country are struggling to feed their babies amid a nationwide shortage of baby formula following supply-chain issues and a national recall after bacteria was found.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'I can't feed my son': Desperate parents cannot get hold of baby formula amid a national shortage as stores ration cans that are selling on eBay for up to $800 after infection killed baby and caused huge recall

• Mothers across the country are struggling to feed their babies amid a nationwide shortage of baby formula
• In the week ending April 24, 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at stores across the country
• The national out-of-stock levels jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24
• That is up 11 percent from last November, with the average cost of infant formula jumping more than 18 percent over the past year
• The shortage comes amid COVID-related supply-chain issues and a national recall after a bacteria was found at a Michigan plant
• Producers say they they are now trying to ramp up production
• In the meantime, mothers should not try to dilute the formula, make their own or substitute it with cow's milk

Desperate parents across the United States are struggling to get their hands on baby formula amid a nationwide shortage as major national retailers have enforced rationing and one website charged up to $800 for the precious tins following a recall on popular products after an infant died of an infection.

In the week ending April 24, CBS News reports, 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at stores across the country, according to an analysis from Datasembly, which tracked baby formula stock at more than 11,000 retailers.

National out-of-stock levels jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24, according to an analysis from Datasembly.

'An entire month [there] was nothing... nothing online, nothing in stores nearby,' Nicole Brown, the mother of a 5-month-old told News 4 Jacksonville in Florida.

'I can get Amazon delivered to my door, but I can't feed my son. It's absolutely heartbreaking.'

And in Virginia, Jill Bradford, a foster mom to a 5-month-old baby girl with medical needs, says she has less than two days of the special amino acid-based formula the baby needs.

'We've called the WIC office,' Bradford told WTVR. 'We've called Thrive, which is a supply company. We've called every hospital system in the state. I've contacted personally, every Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS within the tri-cities area.'

She noted she found eight cans of the formula the child needs on eBay, but it's being sold for $800. The cans typically cost between $43 and $47.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK : Mothers are struggling to get their babies formula as 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at retails across the country for the week ending April 24

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MASSACHUSETTS: National out-of-stock levels, meanwhile, jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The shelves were mostly barren of baby formula back in January

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: Ashleigh Olsen said she is struggling to feed her 9-month-old son who is limited to a specific formula she orders straight from the manufacturer


The shortage began during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say, when companies started to face supply-chain issues, including procuring the necessary ingredients, packaging hang-ups and labor shortages.

It only got worse in February, when Abbott Labs first announced a recall of certain Alimentum, Similac and EleCare formulas after five infants who used the formula contracted a Cronobacter sakazakii infection, which can cause severe blood infections and meningitis. One of the infants died as a result.

Among the hardest-hit areas, according to Datasembly, were Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas - where the out-of-stock rate in the capitol of San Antonio was 56 percent.

National retailers like Walgreens and CVS are now limiting customers to just three baby formula products per purchase, and at Target.com consumers can only buy up to four pieces of a given baby formula product at a time - leaving parents scrambling as nearly three-quarters of babies in the United States are on formula for their first six months.

The situation is even worse for those whose children are put on a specific formula either because they have allergies or due to their nutritional needs.

Ashleigh Olsen, also of Jacksonville, Florida, said her 9-month-old is limited to a specific formula she orders straight from the manufacturer as her son could face an allergic reaction to others. But there is no word on when it will be available again.

'Luckily I stocked up last time. So today when I opened my last can, that kind of lit my fire a little bit,' Olsen said.

And in the midwest, Kassidi Hillard, who has a 2-month-old who needs Similac Pro-Advance, told WDRB she has 'looked at every store in Indiana and here (in Kentucky) and haven't found her formula at not one store.

'It's kind of stressful, cause if you can't find formula, it's like they can't eat nothing else,' Hillard said. 'They can't have baby food, they can't have hard food, they can't have what we eat so it's really, it's not an easy thing to go through.'

In Texas, Emily Pyeatt, 22, wrote on Facebook that she recently went to eight stores in search of formula for her 8-month-old.

'This is the scariest thing I've ever experienced,' she wrote on March 30. 'How are we supposed to feed our children when there's NO FORMULA ON THE SHELVES?'

She later told the Washington Post that as she was down to her last three cans, she has been easing her son onto more solid foods, as she does not produce enough milk to breastfeed.

'It was a very heartbreaking decision to stop, and I think it's upsetting for someone to say that,' Pyeatt said, adding: 'I pray for the women who have babies who are not old enough for solid food.'

Danielle Arzola, 27, also of Texas, told the Post that when she tried to switch formula brands, her 6-month-old got sick, and she now has to drive all over town to find the brand she needs. She has even resorted to buying formula from people in other states.

But the situation is dire everywhere, with one Michigan mom, who was not identified, also told FOX Business that she has been having trouble finding formula for her daughter, who lost a lot of weight following her birth.

'When we ran to the local Target to one day get some just days after she was born, the shelves were completely empty.

'My heart literally sank,' she said, noting: 'Luckily, she doesn't need any special formula, and I was able to order online, but not everyone has been as lucky.

'Our neighbor said her family member can't find the sensitive type of formula for their newborn who has stomach issues anywhere.

'They're in a panic daily not knowing if they'll be able to feed their newborn tomorrow or the day after - my heart breaks for those parents.'

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INDIANA: Some national retailers are now limiting how much baby formula each customer can buy at one time

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KENTUCKY: Parents have had to search multiple stores for the formulas they need

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VIRGINIA: The situation is even more dire for infants who require a special kind of formula

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Emily Pyeatt, of Texas, wrote in March that she went to eight stores and cannot find her child's formula, calling it 'the scariest thing I've ever experienced'

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On eBay, one can of Enfamil Gentlease Infant Formula for Fussiness, Gas, and Crying was selling for more than $40
The company announced in March it has not found any Cronobacter sakazakii in any samples of the formula it sends out, and conducts tests on a regular basis.

But it did say it found evidence of the bacteria in a 'non-product contact area' at its Sturgis, Michigan plant.

Now, baby formula producers are working to once again ramp up production.

'W3e know that this recall has further exacerbated an industry-wide instant formula supply shortage,' Abbott Labs told the Washington Post in a statement.

'We are doing everything we can to address it,' the company said, including ramping up production of Similac, air-freighting in products from Europe and working with health care providers to identify alternative formulas.

Enfamil, meanwhile, told News 4 Jacksonville: 'At Enfamil, we are dedicated to giving the millions of babies and toddlers that rely on our formulas the best start in life.

'We are aware that some parents are having trouble finding their favorite baby formula products in their preferred store,' the company said, noting: 'We have been optimizing our efforts to address any issues as fast as possible, and meet the needs of all babies who rely on our formula.'

The Food and Drug Administration also told News 4 Jacksonville that it has met with several infant formula manufacturers on a weekly basis 'to try to increase capacity to produce specialty and metabolic products overall.'

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The Food and Drug Administration also told News 4 Jacksonville that it has met with several infant formula manufacturers on a weekly basis 'to try to increase capacity to produce specialty and metabolic products overall.'

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National out-of-stock levels for baby formula jumped nine percentage points - from 31 percent to 40 percent - between April 3 and April 24, according to an analysis from Datasembly
In the meantime, experts say, parents should not dilute their baby's formula, try to make their own formula at home or try to replace it with cow's milk.

Doing so is 'not nutritionally comparable with breast milk or infant formula,' according to Brian Dittmeier, senior director of public policy at the National WIC Association, and could cause nutrient deficiencies that can have a 'profound impact on an infant's growth and development.'

He said any parents who are struggling to find formula can contact their local WIC agencies and food banks for help locating some in their communities.

The Infant Nutrition Council of America is also encouraging parents to keep a 10-day to two week supply of formula at home - but is urging them not to stockpile products as the shortage continues - and experts say there is no end in sight.

there is video at the site. please go watch.

 

[hunybee]

i know we know about the shortages, but many people do not know and understand what is happening.

i am not going to get into a whole thing about why breast feeding is best.

i do not want an argument about right or wrong or better for babies or a moral deficiency because someone uses formula. there are myriad of reasons why a person may be feeding their child formula, and an argument about the pros and cons is not helpful right now. neither is shaming people.

so please, do not let this descend in to that.

right now, people that do use formula are now in dire need of it, and it is not there. little by little, we are finding more and more things out about the reasons for the shortages. the implications of the reasons make a bigger and fuller picture as far as the rest of the food supply and supply chain, and it affects more than just formula.

this article, and others that i have found, give absolutely no solutions. authorities give absolutely no solutions or workarounds. in fact, they discourage actually do anything about it!

there ARE ways to work this out. lets help people to do this.

 

[hunybee]

How the FDA Bungled the Powdered Infant Formula Recall - Consumer Reports

Consumer Reports has new details about the FDA's handling of a major recall involving powdered infant formula made by Abbott Nutrition.

www.consumerreports.org

How the FDA Bungled the Powdered Infant Formula Recall
A plant where Abbott Nutrition produced Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare had a history of violations. So why did it take so long to pull products off the market?
By Ryan Felton
Published February 25, 2022 | Updated March 1, 2022

Update: On Monday, Feb. 28, Abbott had expanded its recall of infant formula to include an additional Similac product in response to a new report of bacterial illness associated with infant formula produced at the company’s facility. The bacteria, cronobacter, may have been a contributing cause of death, says the Food and Drug Administration, which is investigating.

Original: Last September the Food and Drug Administration learned that a Minnesota infant had been hospitalized for three weeks with a rare and deadly foodborne pathogen called Cronobacter sakazakii. The child, officials discovered, had consumed powdered infant formula manufactured by the company Abbott Nutrition.

The same week the FDA learned about the case, the agency dispatched an inspector to Abbott’s plant in the small town of Sturgis, Mich., where the formula was made. The inspector uncovered numerous violations of regulations intended to prevent contamination with the bacteria, records show. Perhaps the agency shouldn’t have been surprised: It had seen a similar issue at the plant just two years earlier.

Yet those problems came to the public’s attention only last week after the FDA and Abbott issued a sweeping recall because of concerns about bacterial contamination in multiple products, including certain Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare infant formulas.

The four-month delay between last fall’s inspection and the recall raises serious questions about the FDA’s ability to police the infant formula marketplace, experts say.

The FDA decided to warn consumers about the products, it said, only after an inspection this month found cronobacter in several places at the manufacturing facility, and that Abbott’s own records indicated the company had previously destroyed products because of the presence of the bacteria. The inspection was prompted by three illnesses and one death related to cronobacter as well as another dangerous bacteria, Salmonella Newport, in infants who consumed powdered formula manufactured at the plant.

But the FDA could have responded much sooner to address the issue, a review of the events and federal regulations by Consumer Reports suggests.

~Knowing the risk to infants—I mean, a 50 percent mortality rate—this is serious.
BILL MARLER
Seattle lawyer who specializes in food-poisoning cases~

For one thing, it’s unclear why the FDA’s September inspection didn’t cite Abbott’s records of having destroyed products because of cronobacter contamination, which the company told CR took place in June 2020.

Manufacturers of infant formula are required to make testing records available to the FDA on request, and the agency can initiate a mandatory recall if it finds that an infant formula presents a health risk.

An FDA spokesperson said she had no comment at this time about the lapse or whether the September inspection was sparked by the cronobacter report, citing the ongoing investigation.

But the agency’s findings during the inspection last fall alone should have been enough for the FDA and Abbott to warn consumers about potential contamination, experts say.

“This bacterium is known to be extremely deadly to babies,” says Mitzi D. Baum, chief executive officer of Stop Foodborne Illness, a nonprofit group. “It is distressing that the facility was cited in September 2021 for unsanitary conditions, about the time when the first illness was reported.”

Bill Marler, a lawyer in Seattle who specializes in food-poisoning cases, agrees. “Knowing the risk to infants—I mean, a 50 percent mortality rate—this is serious,” he says.

In addition to the three illnesses and one death reported earlier, other reports of harm continue to come in. On Thursday, the West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources linked a fifth case to the formula, an infant who developed a salmonella infection after ingesting the recalled product.

Other cases may emerge overseas. The potentially contaminated infant formula was distributed around the world, the FDA says.

“Because this involves the global distribution of a contaminated product consumed by an extremely vulnerable population,” says Brian Ronholm, director of food policy at CR, “you would expect the FDA to act urgently to leverage every regulatory tool they possess to prevent additional illnesses and deaths.”

Ellen Wichman, a spokesperson for Abbott, says the company conducts “extensive quality checks” on every batch of infant formula. That includes testing products for cronobacter and salmonella, she says, “and they must test negative before any product is released.”

The FDA notified Abbott about the four complaints, Wichman says, and in each case, tests of related product samples were negative for cronobacter and salmonella. The complaints were received from Sept. 20, 2021, to Jan. 11, 2022, according to the FDA.

In mid-February, testing found cronobacter in “non-product contact areas” in the facility, Wichman adds, and Abbott “took immediate corrective action, including a voluntary product recall on February 17.” The tests didn’t detect salmonella, the company says, and neither pathogen was detected in products that were shipped.

“We value the trust parents place in us for high-quality and safe infant nutrition, and we’ll do whatever it takes to keep that trust and resolve this situation,” Wichman says.

An FDA spokesperson said the agency was continuing to investigate, “and will provide additional consumer safety information when it becomes available.”

But Ronholm says the FDA’s statements ring hollow, especially because there’s no record of the agency sending an inspector back to the plant until late January.

“Once the severity of the situation became known, the FDA should have essentially set up shop at the facility and worked to resolve the problems,” he says.

Repeat Violations
Infant formula manufacturers must abide by specific FDA regulations, which exist in part to “prevent the manufacture of adulterated infant formula,” the agency says.

They’re also supposed to be held to more stringent oversight. The FDA inspects infant formula makers annually, more frequently than for other food manufacturers.

In addition, companies must test for contamination, looking specifically for cronobacter and salmonella, the same bacteria found in Abbott’s products. That’s because both pathogens have “a documented association with powdered infant formula,” the FDA says.

But two years before the FDA’s September 2021 visit, an agency inspector found Abbott’s Michigan facility had failed to test a representative sample for salmonella at the final stage of the production cycle.

When asked about the 2019 inspection, Wichman, Abbott’s spokesperson, said, “We took immediate corrective action and are continuing to follow all safety and quality protocols.”

Subsequent visits also found problems. For example, during its 2021 inspection, the FDA observed other violations of the infant formula manufacturing regulations at Abbott’s facility. Specifically, the agency found that company personnel failed to wash their hands before working with raw materials and infant formula.

Agency records documented a pattern of problems. “You did not maintain a building used in the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of infant formula in a clean and sanitary condition,” the FDA wrote in a summary of the inspection findings posted online.

Copies of the full inspection reports were not immediately available.

~Once the severity of the situation became known, the FDA should have essentially set up shop at the facility and worked to resolve the problems.
BRIAN RONHOLM
Director of food policy, Consumer Reports~

Destroyed Infant Formula
The inspection last fall ended Sept. 24, records show, the same week the FDA learned of the first cronobacter case in Minnesota.

Under FDA regulations, Abbott must maintain production and testing records of each batch of infant formula, along with any consumer complaints it receives. The company must also provide those records to the FDA when asked.

That includes tests conducted to detect cronobacter or salmonella. When the recall was issued last week, the FDA said that a review of Abbott’s internal records indicated “environmental contamination with Cronobacter sakazakii and the firm’s destruction of product due to the presence of cronobacter.”

Wichman says the incident in question happened in June 2020 and was identified through testing “that is required before product is released.”

“Product was destroyed per our quality process and FDA regulations, and no product was distributed to the market,” she says.

Yet the FDA doesn’t cite those records as part of its September 2021 inspection, despite observing multiple violations of sanitary standards and agency staff knowing of an initial cronobacter case possibly linked to Abbott’s infant formula. It’s unclear whether the agency saw those records, and the FDA spokesperson declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

It wasn’t until after the FDA received the three additional reports of illness—two for cronobacter and one for salmonella—and launched a follow-up inspection late in January that it acknowledged Abbott’s records of prior contamination with cronobacter.

Marler, the food-safety attorney, says infant formula contamination cases are easier to investigate than other foods because the potential sources are limited. Infants typically only consume either breast milk or formula.

One adverse event is usually not enough to determine whether a foodborne illness is linked to a more widespread issue, says Doug Schultz, a spokesperson for the Minnesota health department, which alerted the FDA to the hospitalized infant last September.

But given how rare cronobacter infections are and its known association with infant formula, Marler says the first case in Minnesota should have been enough for the FDA to dig deeper sooner.

“You got one case, you should just be on it like white on rice,” he says. “I find this whole thing a bit troubling.”

Mandatory Recall Authority
While the FDA has been able to mandate most food recalls only since 2011, it has had that authority over infant formula makers since 1986.

Congress gave the agency that power following reports a few years earlier of more than 100 infants becoming ill after consuming contaminated formula.

The new law made it clear that manufacturers and the FDA should act quickly when concerns about infant formula come to light.

It says that when infant formula manufacturers learn a product is adulterated, they must “promptly notify” the FDA. And the FDA is supposed to immediately issue a mandatory recall if it determines that the infant formula presents a health risk.

Yet CR’s Ronholm says mandatory recall authority is a tool the FDA seems uncomfortable using.
“Unfortunately,” he says, “the delays and missed opportunities in this case, and others, give the impression that the FDA emphasizes industry protection over consumer protection.”

More Cases Likely
Florida resident Luis Suarez is among those who say their child got sick after consuming the now-recalled formula.
In late January, Suarez purchased one of the affected products—Alimentum—for his daughter at a local CVS, according to a lawsuit he filed last week against Abbott. One of the containers included a lot number that matched the recall advisory, his complaint says.

The complaint alleges that just over a week later, Suarez’s daughter became ill after consuming the Alimentum, including “overwhelming diarrhea (in excess of 10 times a day), abdominal pain, severe diaper rash,” and more. Rafael de la Grana, an attorney representing Suarez in the case, told CR that the baby tested positive for salmonella. He also said Suarez couldn’t be made available for an interview, citing the pending litigation.

~This is such a vulnerable class of individuals; it is children, babies, infants who are being affected by this.
RAFAEL DE LA GRANA
A Florida attorney representing a plaintiff~

“This is such a vulnerable class of individuals; it is children, babies, infants who are being affected by this,” he says.
When asked about the lawsuit, Abbott’s Wichman reinforced that “no distributed product from our Sturgis, Mich., facility has tested positive for the presence of either Cronobacter sakazakii or salmonella.”

What to Do
To see whether a product is part of the recall, check the lot codes on the bottom of the container for the following three markings:

• 22 through 37 as the first two digits in the code
• K8, SH, or Z2 as part of the code
• An expiration date of 4-1-2022 (APR 2022) or later

In addition, Abbott has recalled a Similac PM 60/40 powdered infant formula with the lot code 27032K800. This is a specialty formula for certain infants who would benefit from lowered mineral intake.

A full list of the recalled products hasn’t been made available to the public. Instead, the company said consumers can use a lookup tool on its website to find out whether a product they have is part of the recall. If it is, they can call Abbott Nutrition at 800-986-8540 for information on how to obtain a refund.

If you have recalled Abbott products, the FDA recommends not to use them. It says the recall doesn’t include liquid formula products or metabolic deficiency nutrition formulas, and advises that consumers should continue to use products not covered in the recall.

Cronobacter bacteria can cause severe, life-threatening infections such as sepsis, or meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine. Symptoms include poor feeding, irritability, temperature changes, and jaundice. Infection may also cause bowel damage and could spread through the blood to other parts of the body.

The FDA says that if your child is experiencing those symptoms, immediately notify your child’s doctor and seek medical care. And the agency encourages healthcare providers and health departments to report confirmed cases to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Note that if you purchased affected infant formula with SNAP benefits, you now may be able to exchange it for products not typically covered by the program. Check your retailer for details.

 

[greysage]

Surely the government or some ngo's can help!

 

[GammaRat]

https://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-Kid-Milk-Replacer/dp/B0050IBFFG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=2FP0PUQ2PZU4M&keywords=goat+milk+replacer&qid=1651840109&rdc=1&sprefix=goat+milk+repl%2Caps%2C706&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySFRUV1E5S1RHNk1WJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjc1MzYxMVZMM1dQSzFIMEdNSSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTI0NDg0MkpVTEhKSElTN1lTNyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

 

[bw]

Stories like this are becoming a constant background noise even for those who have no need of the product. Eventually it's going to hit critical mass and we're going to have a food panic.

 

[TKO]

Worse in a place like Utah where they have more babies. Everyone has formula as "Limit 2". We've been sending formula out to our kids.

 

[Hawke]

One of my coworkers is in this predicament. Her baby can only take one specific type of formula, and because of the recall, everyone is grabbing up what's left, which includes the one her baby needs. She can't find it anywhere. Another coworker has a sister who is having to order formula from England and have it shipped over, to the tune of $70.00 in shipping each time.

 

[hunybee]

i have been trying to confirm how it is transmitted and the biggest means of doing so. it almost seems that there is a deliberate attempt of not saying how it happens. there also seems to be extremely vague and contradicting info.

from the cdc:

Frequently Asked Questions | Cronobacter | CDC

General information about Cronobacter, including frequently asked questions.

www.cdc.gov

How is Cronobacter transmitted?
Cronobacter infections have been associated with consumption of reconstituted powdered infant formula. In several outbreak investigations, Cronobacter has been found in powdered infant formula that had been contaminated in the factory. In other cases, Cronobacter might have contaminated the powdered infant formula after it was opened at home or elsewhere.

Since the bacteria live in the environment, it’s possible there are other sources of infection. There have been no confirmed reports of Cronobacter infections spreading vertically or through person-to-person contact. However, other related bacteria commonly spread through person-to-person contact, especially in healthcare facilities when there are lapses in infection control practice.





also from the cdc:

Transmission | Cronobacter | CDC

How Cronobacter is spread in formula manufacturing facilities and in homes.

www.cdc.gov

Transmission
Cronobacter, which used to be called Enterobacter sakazakii, is a germ that can live in very dry places. Cronobacter has been found in dry foods, like powdered infant formula, powdered milk, herbal teas, and starches. It has also been found in sewer water.

How Cronobacter is spread
Sometimes powdered formula gets germs in it while it is being made at the factory. Other times, Cronobacter can get into powdered infant formula after it is opened at home or somewhere else. Since Cronobacter germs live in the environment, there might be other ways babies can catch it. We do not know if Cronobacter infection can be spread from one person to another, but other types of bacteria spread this way, especially in hospitals if people do not wash their hands well.

Risks from factories and homes
Powdered infant formula is not germ-free. Formula manufacturers report that it is not possible to remove all germs from powdered infant formula. At the factory, Cronobacter could get into formula powder from ingredients used to make the formula or if the formula powder touches a Cronobacter-covered surface in the factory.
At home, Cronobacter could get into the formula if formula lids or scoops are placed on Cronobacter-covered surfaces and later touch the formula or if the formula is mixed with water or in a bottle that has Cronobacter in it.

 

[Melodi]

Local and regional health departments and hospitals better start to panic, because for a lot of these babies there are no other options. Especially those with Mothers who don't produce enough milk and have breast infections (which happened to my friend who lived here when she had a baby), have serious allergies to breast milk, and/or are adopted/in foster care.

Within 24 hours of no formula at all, these babies are probably going to end up in the ER and the hospitals will legally have to try to keep them alive if they are in immediate danger of death, which they will be.

Now many of here would try to get goat's milk which could help in many cases (and I find it shocking that health departments and other authorities are not looking at this in terms of an emergency solution for some babies). But that isn't an option for everyone - but people are going to start looking at old books for emergency formulas (many of which contain honey which is also dangerous) and diluting formula as desperate measures.

This could get ugly really-really fast, like in 48 to 72 hours fast if it the problem is widespread and not sorted within that time frame when the last can or bottle is gone from family pantries.

 

[hunybee]

View attachment 338278

https://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-Kid-Milk-Replacer/dp/B0050IBFFG/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=2FP0PUQ2PZU4M&keywords=goat+milk+replacer&qid=1651840109&rdc=1&sprefix=goat+milk+repl%2Caps%2C706&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySFRUV1E5S1RHNk1WJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjc1MzYxMVZMM1dQSzFIMEdNSSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTI0NDg0MkpVTEhKSElTN1lTNyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

yup, goat milk formula is exactly one of the things i was thinking of.

remember though, there have been hinting in the articles that it isn't JUST baby formula that can and is affected with this.

dry milks, teas, and many other dry foods.

so that is definitely something to be thinking of when considering replacements an stock up items.

sure seems odd, eh?

 

[Samuel Adams]

Let’s see......

50 years of tax-funded abortion.....

2 years of “vax”-induced miscarriage.

Escalating shortage of “baby formula” rapidly coming to unavailability.....

Ongoing “vax”-induced infertility in males and females of the species....


I’m going out on a limb of flimsy speculation and declaring the “formula” shortage.......deliberate ?


I know the “Georgia Guidestones” are nothing more than a drunken teenage prank, but.........

 

[raven]

Someone should start up an AirBNB or Uber for titties.
You know where you can rent a tit for a couple months.
You could make millions. Maybe get Musk to invest.

 

[Melodi]

Someone should start up an AirBNB or Uber for titties.
You know where you can rent a tit for a couple months.
You could make millions. Maybe get Musk to invest.

You would not believe the horrified and I do mean horrified and over-the-top reaction when Nightwolf was in medical school and this topic came up, especially in regards to emergency situations and he simply suggested, "why not bring back wetnurses?"

Why you would have thought he had suggested feeding babies raw pigs blood or something equally terrible and deadly.

It was a women teaching that class too, and she found the vary idea of a women nursing another women's baby for any reason to be simply shocking beyond belief!

I guess she never did any volunteer or field work in the third world, where it isn't that uncommon for women to do this, because the alternative is often a dead baby.

 

[hunybee]

Local and regional health departments and hospitals better start to panic, because for a lot of these babies there are no other options. Especially those with Mothers who don't produce enough milk and have breast infections (which happened to my friend who lived here when she had a baby), have serious allergies to breast milk, and/or are adopted/in foster care.

Within 24 hours of no formula at all, these babies are probably going to end up in the ER and the hospitals will legally have to try to keep them alive if they are in immediate danger of death, which they will be.

Now many of here would try to get goat's milk which could help in many cases (and I find it shocking that health departments and other authorities are not looking at this in terms of an emergency solution for some babies). But that isn't an option for everyone - but people are going to start looking at old books for emergency formulas (many of which contain honey which is also dangerous) and diluting formula as desperate measures.

This could get ugly really-really fast, like in 48 to 72 hours fast if it the problem is widespread and not sorted within that time frame when the last can or bottle is gone from family pantries.

absolutely!!

the last part of your post that i highlighted is another thing that was just stunning to me from the original article. that mother said she stocked up the last time. and then she said that when she opened her LAST CAN that day, THEN it lit a fire under her to look for more!

so NOW she decided she needed to find more?! once she opened her last can?!

i just.....

but yes, this is so much worse than the articles and the gov is saying and they have no plan or help to the public, but they tell you to no really do anything about it.

duhr.......

 

[annieosage]

Someone should start up an AirBNB or Uber for titties.
You know where you can rent a tit for a couple months.
You could make millions. Maybe get Musk to invest.

I think your post was in jest (maybe?) but there are women who donate their breast milk

 

[hunybee]

Let’s see......

50 years of tax-funded abortion.....

2 years of “vax”-induced miscarriage.

Escalating shortage of “baby formula” rapidly coming to unavailability.....

Ongoing “vax”-induced fertility in males and females of the species....


I’m going out on a limb of flimsy speculation and declaring the “formula” shortage.......deliberate ?


I know the “Georgia Guidestones” are nothing more than a drunken teenage prank, but.........

certainly does make one look at things from a different perspective.....

 

[raven]

You would not believe the horrified and I do mean horrified and over-the-top reaction when Nightwolf was in medical school and this topic came up, especially in regards to emergency situations and he simply suggested, "why not bring back wetnurses?"

Why you would have thought he had suggested feeding babies raw pigs blood or something equally terrible and deadly.

It was a women teaching that class too, and she found the vary idea of a women nursing another women's baby for any reason to be simply shocking beyond belief!

I guess she never did any volunteer or field work in the third world, where it isn't that uncommon for women to do this, because the alternative is often a dead baby.

And then there is evaporated milk and Karo Syrup

 

[raven]

I think your post was in jest (maybe?) but there are women who donate their breast milk

Donate? Who said anything about donate.
People pay $4.50 a gallon for milk and $18/hour for labor.
I think $15 per feeding would be a fair price for a happy meal.

 

[Melodi]

And then there is evaporated milk and Karo Syrup

Yep, and I have some of those in my "what to do if the world ends" until we could locate a lactating goat - but a lot of the old "emergency formulas" are extremely risky, better than a 100 percent chance of death if not used but not a great solution when the problem is "shortages" and there is a modern hospital to race to if a family can make it there.

 

[Rabbit]

I am no expert on the subject of baby formula at all. I was born in the early 1950s to a mother who barely survived the birth. I'm pretty sure my twin and I were fed watered-down evaporated milk. My twin could not tolerate it but she could tolerate goat's milk.
My great-nephew needed a very expensive formula and he would have died if he didn't have it. God help us.

 

[hunybee]

a few other things from these articles:

this is an excellent question. it really doesn't seem to be something that is being talked about now, is it?

considering the subject matter and the implications, one would think it would be on eof the MOST talked about things on the news....but it isn't.

whenever other recalls due to some form of bacterial infection has happened, and children are the most affected, the news just cannot get enough of it. but now? crickets.


the other thing that is ticking me off is the "saying it without saying it" aspect of this. and maybe also the deliberate obfuscation of some things.

there are actually quite a few.

here is one:

The company announced in March it has not found any Cronobacter sakazakii in any samples of the formula it sends out, and conducts tests on a regular basis.

But it did say it found evidence of the bacteria in a 'non-product contact area' at its Sturgis, Michigan plant.

so......what and where exactly was the "non-product contact area" they found the bacteria? don't you think that would be of great interest?

 

[155 arty]

Mothers find barren shelves as they search for baby formula

Mothers across the country are struggling to feed their babies amid a nationwide shortage of baby formula following supply-chain issues and a national recall after bacteria was found.

www.dailymail.co.uk

'I can't feed my son': Desperate parents cannot get hold of baby formula amid a national shortage as stores ration cans that are selling on eBay for up to $800 after infection killed baby and caused huge recall

• Mothers across the country are struggling to feed their babies amid a nationwide shortage of baby formula
• In the week ending April 24, 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at stores across the country
• The national out-of-stock levels jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24
• That is up 11 percent from last November, with the average cost of infant formula jumping more than 18 percent over the past year
• The shortage comes amid COVID-related supply-chain issues and a national recall after a bacteria was found at a Michigan plant
• Producers say they they are now trying to ramp up production
• In the meantime, mothers should not try to dilute the formula, make their own or substitute it with cow's milk

Desperate parents across the United States are struggling to get their hands on baby formula amid a nationwide shortage as major national retailers have enforced rationing and one website charged up to $800 for the precious tins following a recall on popular products after an infant died of an infection.

In the week ending April 24, CBS News reports, 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at stores across the country, according to an analysis from Datasembly, which tracked baby formula stock at more than 11,000 retailers.

National out-of-stock levels jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24, according to an analysis from Datasembly.

'An entire month [there] was nothing... nothing online, nothing in stores nearby,' Nicole Brown, the mother of a 5-month-old told News 4 Jacksonville in Florida.

'I can get Amazon delivered to my door, but I can't feed my son. It's absolutely heartbreaking.'

And in Virginia, Jill Bradford, a foster mom to a 5-month-old baby girl with medical needs, says she has less than two days of the special amino acid-based formula the baby needs.

'We've called the WIC office,' Bradford told WTVR. 'We've called Thrive, which is a supply company. We've called every hospital system in the state. I've contacted personally, every Kroger, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS within the tri-cities area.'

She noted she found eight cans of the formula the child needs on eBay, but it's being sold for $800. The cans typically cost between $43 and $47.

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NEW YORK, NEW YORK : Mothers are struggling to get their babies formula as 40 to 50 percent of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at retails across the country for the week ending April 24

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MASSACHUSETTS: National out-of-stock levels, meanwhile, jumped nine percentage points from 31 percent to 40 percent between April 3 and April 24

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: The shelves were mostly barren of baby formula back in January

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: Ashleigh Olsen said she is struggling to feed her 9-month-old son who is limited to a specific formula she orders straight from the manufacturer


The shortage began during the COVID-19 pandemic, experts say, when companies started to face supply-chain issues, including procuring the necessary ingredients, packaging hang-ups and labor shortages.

It only got worse in February, when Abbott Labs first announced a recall of certain Alimentum, Similac and EleCare formulas after five infants who used the formula contracted a Cronobacter sakazakii infection, which can cause severe blood infections and meningitis. One of the infants died as a result.

Among the hardest-hit areas, according to Datasembly, were Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas - where the out-of-stock rate in the capitol of San Antonio was 56 percent.

National retailers like Walgreens and CVS are now limiting customers to just three baby formula products per purchase, and at Target.com consumers can only buy up to four pieces of a given baby formula product at a time - leaving parents scrambling as nearly three-quarters of babies in the United States are on formula for their first six months.

The situation is even worse for those whose children are put on a specific formula either because they have allergies or due to their nutritional needs.

Ashleigh Olsen, also of Jacksonville, Florida, said her 9-month-old is limited to a specific formula she orders straight from the manufacturer as her son could face an allergic reaction to others. But there is no word on when it will be available again.

'Luckily I stocked up last time. So today when I opened my last can, that kind of lit my fire a little bit,' Olsen said.

And in the midwest, Kassidi Hillard, who has a 2-month-old who needs Similac Pro-Advance, told WDRB she has 'looked at every store in Indiana and here (in Kentucky) and haven't found her formula at not one store.

'It's kind of stressful, cause if you can't find formula, it's like they can't eat nothing else,' Hillard said. 'They can't have baby food, they can't have hard food, they can't have what we eat so it's really, it's not an easy thing to go through.'

In Texas, Emily Pyeatt, 22, wrote on Facebook that she recently went to eight stores in search of formula for her 8-month-old.

'This is the scariest thing I've ever experienced,' she wrote on March 30. 'How are we supposed to feed our children when there's NO FORMULA ON THE SHELVES?'

She later told the Washington Post that as she was down to her last three cans, she has been easing her son onto more solid foods, as she does not produce enough milk to breastfeed.

'It was a very heartbreaking decision to stop, and I think it's upsetting for someone to say that,' Pyeatt said, adding: 'I pray for the women who have babies who are not old enough for solid food.'

Danielle Arzola, 27, also of Texas, told the Post that when she tried to switch formula brands, her 6-month-old got sick, and she now has to drive all over town to find the brand she needs. She has even resorted to buying formula from people in other states.

But the situation is dire everywhere, with one Michigan mom, who was not identified, also told FOX Business that she has been having trouble finding formula for her daughter, who lost a lot of weight following her birth.

'When we ran to the local Target to one day get some just days after she was born, the shelves were completely empty.

'My heart literally sank,' she said, noting: 'Luckily, she doesn't need any special formula, and I was able to order online, but not everyone has been as lucky.

'Our neighbor said her family member can't find the sensitive type of formula for their newborn who has stomach issues anywhere.

'They're in a panic daily not knowing if they'll be able to feed their newborn tomorrow or the day after - my heart breaks for those parents.'

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INDIANA: Some national retailers are now limiting how much baby formula each customer can buy at one time

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KENTUCKY: Parents have had to search multiple stores for the formulas they need

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VIRGINIA: The situation is even more dire for infants who require a special kind of formula

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Emily Pyeatt, of Texas, wrote in March that she went to eight stores and cannot find her child's formula, calling it 'the scariest thing I've ever experienced'

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On eBay, one can of Enfamil Gentlease Infant Formula for Fussiness, Gas, and Crying was selling for more than $40
The company announced in March it has not found any Cronobacter sakazakii in any samples of the formula it sends out, and conducts tests on a regular basis.

But it did say it found evidence of the bacteria in a 'non-product contact area' at its Sturgis, Michigan plant.

Now, baby formula producers are working to once again ramp up production.

'W3e know that this recall has further exacerbated an industry-wide instant formula supply shortage,' Abbott Labs told the Washington Post in a statement.

'We are doing everything we can to address it,' the company said, including ramping up production of Similac, air-freighting in products from Europe and working with health care providers to identify alternative formulas.

Enfamil, meanwhile, told News 4 Jacksonville: 'At Enfamil, we are dedicated to giving the millions of babies and toddlers that rely on our formulas the best start in life.

'We are aware that some parents are having trouble finding their favorite baby formula products in their preferred store,' the company said, noting: 'We have been optimizing our efforts to address any issues as fast as possible, and meet the needs of all babies who rely on our formula.'

The Food and Drug Administration also told News 4 Jacksonville that it has met with several infant formula manufacturers on a weekly basis 'to try to increase capacity to produce specialty and metabolic products overall.'

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The Food and Drug Administration also told News 4 Jacksonville that it has met with several infant formula manufacturers on a weekly basis 'to try to increase capacity to produce specialty and metabolic products overall.'

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National out-of-stock levels for baby formula jumped nine percentage points - from 31 percent to 40 percent - between April 3 and April 24, according to an analysis from Datasembly
In the meantime, experts say, parents should not dilute their baby's formula, try to make their own formula at home or try to replace it with cow's milk.

Doing so is 'not nutritionally comparable with breast milk or infant formula,' according to Brian Dittmeier, senior director of public policy at the National WIC Association, and could cause nutrient deficiencies that can have a 'profound impact on an infant's growth and development.'

He said any parents who are struggling to find formula can contact their local WIC agencies and food banks for help locating some in their communities.

The Infant Nutrition Council of America is also encouraging parents to keep a 10-day to two week supply of formula at home - but is urging them not to stockpile products as the shortage continues - and experts say there is no end in sight.

there is video at the site. please go watch.

Ok ....I'm sure I'm going to get roasted here ,but here goes.
I get it that some babies / kids can't drink whole milk from a cow.
Some are allergic to breast milk,my youngest was.
Breast feeding is best .
Are moms being lazy and just don't want to use what God gave them ..if not allergic to cow milk and nursing is not an option.. just give them whole organic milk and be done with it..my generation was raised on it . ok flame away.

 

[hunybee]

I am no expert on the subject of baby formula at all. I was born in the early 1950s to a mother who barely survived the birth. I'm pretty sure my twin and I were fed watered-down evaporated milk. My twin could not tolerate it but she could tolerate goat's milk.
My great-nephew needed a very expensive formula and he would have died if he didn't have it. God help us.

melodi is correct in that some of the old formulas are not the greatest, but then again, she is also correct in saying that if not used the death rate is 100%. not the best solutins, but better than death until something better can be found.

you are also correct and have made a very good point about goat milk. goat milk formula is actually a very, very good substitute! my sister was on goat milk as an infant because she could not tolerate cow milk. goat milk is extremely close to human breast milk, and fortifying it with just a couple of things can make it even better!

 

[Cyclonemom]

absolutely!!

the last part of your post that i highlighted is another thing that was just stunning to me from the original article. that mother said she stocked up the last time. and then she said that when she opened her LAST CAN that day, THEN it lit a fire under her to look for more!

so NOW she decided she needed to find more?! once she opened her last can?!

i just.....

but yes, this is so much worse than the articles and the gov is saying and they have no plan or help to the public, but they tell you to no really do anything about it.

duhr.......

It happens with EVERYTHING!

We have patients that are only regulated on a specific type of insulin. They wait to call in a refill after giving the final dose out of the bottle. They are still floored to find out that delivery is delayed and they can't pick it up that day, and get mad at us.

PLEASE, KEEP AT LEAST A 2 WEEK SUPPLY OF ALL KEY MEDICATIONS ON HAND AT ALL TIMES. PEOPLE AND PET MEDS.

 

[GammaRat]

Goat milk is the closest to human milk.

It's naturally homogenized, which means lactose intolerant people can drink it.

And MY goat's milk tastes like melted ice cream... Unless you let it set for several days..... Then you can taste the goaty flavor..

 

[hd5574]

I was born 1946 and mom used whole cows milk...there were still ration coupons
If using cows milk I would use organic whole milk.

 

[Terrwyn]

Amazon has it so other than its hugely expensive where is the shortage? In the 175 dollar range for 4 cans.

 

[catskinner]

This baby formula shortage is no joke. My friend has a cousin, who's daughter has a 2 month old with huge acid reflux issues. The only formula she can keep down is at Sam's club. They have a limit of two a day, and in store only purchase. The nearest Sam's is 45 minutes away. The baby's mom has sent out a plea to everyone she knows, to please pick up formula for her when they go to Sam's. As I well know, doctors recommend "stick a bottle in it", when babies with acid reflux cry, so they go through more formula than average.

This is not inflation, pricing people out of certain products. This is a, "there is none available at any price", problem. The baby's father has driven the 45 minutes to pick up his daily limit, only to find they didn't have any. He was forced to drive over 100 miles to get 2 cans of baby formula.

Think about that. Is there something that you must have? Stock up before it's gone. This is not to say that the parents could have known that their baby would have these issues, but the things we know about, get it now .

 

[Blacknarwhal]

The same week the FDA learned about the case, the agency dispatched an inspector to Abbott’s plant in the small town of Sturgis, Mich., where the formula was made. The inspector uncovered numerous violations of regulations intended to prevent contamination with the bacteria, records show. Perhaps the agency shouldn’t have been surprised: It had seen a similar issue at the plant just two years earlier.

I know that building. It's all the skyline that Sturgis has. You can literally see the place from a mile away.

I'm also kind of surprised that so many babies are on formula. Three-quarters? That sounds like a really, really high percentage. I'd get like 10 percent, but 75? That just sounds amiss from here. I clearly don't know from babies, but three out of four on formula just doesn't sound right.

 

[summerthyme]

Ok ....I'm sure I'm going to get roasted here ,but here goes.
I get it that some babies / kids can't drink whole milk from a cow.
Some are allergic to breast milk,my youngest was.
Breast feeding is best .
Are moms being lazy and just don't want to use what God gave them ..if not allergic to cow milk and nursing is not an option.. just give them whole organic milk and be done with it..my generation was raised on it . ok flame away.

After about 3 months, you can be right. My granddaughters were breastfed, but were getting solid food and raw cows milk by 3 months, and they thrived. They never did get special "baby food", just finely chopped or mashed food from the adult meals.

But it IS also a fact that there seems to be more and more babies who have significant allergies, and who won't thrive or even survive without special formula.

Summerthyme

 

[hunybee]

Goat milk is the closest to human milk.

It's naturally homogenized, which means lactose intolerant people can drink it.

Not exactly. Some people that have a mild issue with lactose intolerance might be able to tolerate it. You are correct that it is closest to human milk though.

 

[Bubble Head]

It was very common among my family to use cows milk, goats milk, or canned if necessary. Added a little slice of butter while heating it up. Chubby little laughing babies were considered healthy. This is another unheard and unnecessary crisis. For all we know they are sending formula to the illegals along with the VA medical staff?

 

[ioujc]

Goat's milk ......heck, COW'S milk****** I know that is what was in ALL my bottles as an infant!! What is the deal??? Yeah, I know, babies occasionally have allergies, but good ole goat's milk should EASILY circumvent this!!
It is, in my opinion, VERY SAD that society has become so dependent on fake food for even babies!! I'm not talking about not being able to breast feed, I am talking about all the CRAP they have put in baby formula!!!!

Wonder why kids today are FAT??!! Baby formula is based on SOY......which produces FAT. The more fat cells created as an infant, the fatter, and more health problems that individual will have throughout life!!

As unacceptable as it may be, were I a parent, I would either be finding a "clean" source of goat's milk, or I would buy some of the dry goat or sheep milk available at the farm supply stores*****and YES, this situation was and is CREATED by the evil seeking to destroy humanity today, or at least the attempts to create a Master/Slave society, where the elites have ALL and the common man has NOTHING!!

 

[GammaRat]

Baby fat is baby fat. It's usually gone, once they become mobile.

 

[BassMan]

Well, we can't feed our babies, but at least we take care of the important things:

• Profit for the board and stockholders is maximized by shipping jobs overseas.
• The 1% see their wealth grow from QE.
• Gay advocates get more public forums, and access to small children.
• Illegals find it easy to enter the US.
• Crime goes unpunished, unless prosecution serves PC goals.
• "Tree-huggers" are placated by the elimination of much of the energy industry.

So what's the problem?

 

[eens]

PLEASE pass the recipe far and wide!!! It's much better than the canned stuff and anyone can make it.

I made it by the gallon, you need an immersion blender.

Prep Genrl - Goat Milk Baby Formula Recipe

I used this recipe for 2 of my grandchildren when their mother went back to work. It is great. I made it by the gallon. You would need an immersion blender.

www.timebomb2000.com

 

[ioujc]

It was very common among my family to use cows milk, goats milk, or canned if necessary. Added a little slice of butter while heating it up. Chubby little laughing babies were considered healthy. This is another unheard and unnecessary crisis. For all we know they are sending formula to the illegals along with the VA medical staff?

OR they are DEFINITELY sending it over seas......that has been one of the HORRIBLE things we have done to 3rd world countries, that is, convincing them that "formula" is better than or healthier than breast milk.....check out info from missionaries and other sources...... Nestle's and other companies are VERY GUILTY of this.

Corporate Crime and Violence

 

[John Deere Girl]

Worse in a place like Utah where they have more babies. Everyone has formula as "Limit 2". We've been sending formula out to our kids.

I just did that for my youngest grandbaby yesterday. I may continue to do so too. I was able to ship 3 cans yesterday thanks to Amazon.

 

[Samuel Adams]

certainly does make one look at things from a different perspective.....

It’s what I do.

Brushfires......