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

[winodog]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1522955596634501122

View: https://twitter.com/rdcarrington/status/1522955596634501122

 

[kyrsyan]

Reportedly allergic to milk, I was fed Gerber's meat based formula. My big brother said it looked like diarrhea in a bottle. I had apple juice on my cereal when I was older, and drank beer and fruit punch and apple juice. My teeth are shot now.
Took chewable calcium pills from the time I can remember, so at least they tried to do something right.

My son is allergic to casein. The only baby food milk that did not completely screw him up was breast milk but he still had problems with it. We tried formulas when he had problems latching on. That was a hot mess. I ended up using a shield or pumping the entire time. At 3 months his appetite outgrew my production and we had to start adding completely to solids. By 6 months he was completely on solids. The docs just about drove me nuts.

 

[dioptase]

I breastfed my only child until about 6 months, at which point I had to go back to work, and pumping was not really working out. By that time my child had already started eating some solid food anyway, and bottles with cow's milk were not a problem. End result was a strong, mostly healthy, and intelligent adult.

 

[blackguard]

Grocery run today to the local WM, deliberately checked the infant area to see what the formula situation was. There was definitely some but at least half the shelves in that section were empty. I used to work at that store and that section was never this low in the past. So yes there was about 40% of what is usually there but lots of holes in the shelves. This is western OK, about an hour west of OKC

 

[Jaybird]

..

 

[eens]

Biden’s bread line crisis? Anatomy of the American baby formula shortage

A president who promised competence was caught flat footed by agency failure, supply chain woes and inflation, and baby parents are now in a panic.

justthenews.com

Biden’s bread line crisis? Anatomy of the American baby formula shortage
A president who promised competence was caught flat footed by agency failure, supply chain woes and inflation, and baby parents are now in a panic.


By John Solomon
Updated: May 7, 2022 - 11:37pm

• At the outset of his presidency, Joe Biden promised competence by a bigger, better government. A few days ago, one of his loyal allies exposed a gross incompetence by federal officials on Biden’s watch that defied that promise and inflamed a baby formula shortage now panicking parents nationwide.

Rep. Rose DeLauro, D-Conn., a reliable liberal ally, unveiled documents showing the Biden Food and Drug Administration was alerted by a whistleblower last fall about potential contamination issues at the Abbott Nutrition baby formula factory in Michigan and failed for months to act aggressively.

“The FDA reacted far too slowly to this report,” DeLauro said in releasing a letter to the Health and Human Services inspector general demanding an immediate investigation to an incident that has led to babies being sickened and dying and a belated recall that has emptied shelves of formula nationwide.

DeLauro_OIG Request Infant Formula Recall.pdf

The congresswoman, the chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, laid out a four-month-long trail of federal bumbles and stumbles: the report came in Oct. 20, the whistleblower didn’t even get interviewed for two months, the plant didn’t get inspected until Jan. 31 and the recall didn’t get issued until Feb. 17.

“Why did the FDA not spring into action?” she implored during a congressional hearing. “Why did it take four months to pull this formula off store shelves? How many infants were fed contaminated formula during this time, by parents who trusted that the formula they were buying was safe? How many additional illnesses and deaths were there due to FDA’s slow response?”

Now the bureaucratic stumbling has escalated into a national crisis, as video of bare shelves and panicked parents harken in America some of the same fears and images as the bread lines and rationing that befell the Soviet Union in the early 1990s just before its collapse.

The problems began even before the recall as inflation, labor shortages and supply chain slowdowns began putting pressure on the baby food staple last fall.

In November, baby formula was already substantially more expensive and supply shortages had already risen to 11%. By the first week of April, the shortages had soared to 31%, and last week the number stood at a stunning 40%, according to statistics kept by Datasembly.

The escalating shortages have prompted major stores such as Target, CVS and Walgreens to ration supplies with purchase limits.

"This is a shocking number that you don't see for other categories," Datasembly CEO Ben Reich told CBS MoneyWatch on Friday.

The crisis has both political and personal consequences.

Many millennial and Gen Z child-bearing parents were part of the coalition that propelled Biden to his election win. And some parents are now facing life-and-death consequences, especially for children with rare digestive disorders.

"If this doesn’t get fixed soon, I don’t know how my son will survive," Phoebe Carter, whose 5-year-old son suffers from a rare digestive and immune system disease, told Politico on Saturday. "I just can’t stress that enough."

The poor and working class – whom Biden promised hope in his inaugural speech – are also disproportionately affected. A food bank in Seattle was so desperate to get some baby formula it recently held an emergency drive.

Alfredo Ortiz, president of the small business group Job Creators Network, said the baby formula crisis follows a pattern of other economic failures by the Biden administration.

“The only thing the Biden administration seems to be efficient at is burying their heads in the sand,” he said. “These are the same bureaucrats that told us for months that inflation was only transitory and would resolve itself. Then they tried to tell small business owners that their supply chain issues had been resolved even though we could all see cargo ships backed up for miles at several ports nationwide.

”Unfortunately, it comes as no surprise that they have failed to protect even the most innocent Americans from their incompetence,” he added.

The shortages are also raising fears that parents might be tempted to concoct their own formulas or water down current store-bought formulas to stretch supplies, two actions experts say are fraught with danger.

The FDA strongly urges parents not to make their own formulas, saying contamination and inadequate nutrients in home-brewed formulas can lead to everything from "severe nutritional imbalances to food-borne illnesses, both of which can be life-threatening."

"Making things at home off of a Google recipe is potentially very dangerous for your baby," Dr. Stephen Lauer, a pediatrician with the University of Kansas Health System, told WDAF TV station this week.

Meanwhile, parents are desperately pleading for help on social media.

"If the MSM can talk about the toilet paper shortage ever hour, they should be talking about the baby formula shortage at least. ...We ended finding the Amazon brand online but not everyone is so lucky to be able to feed that. Please share. This is every store!" Danielle Miller tweeted with a picture of an empty shelve of formula.

 

[hunybee]

The shortages are also raising fears that parents might be tempted to concoct their own formulas or water down current store-bought formulas to stretch supplies, two actions experts say are fraught with danger.

The FDA strongly urges parents not to make their own formulas, saying contamination and inadequate nutrients in home-brewed formulas can lead to everything from "severe nutritional imbalances to food-borne illnesses, both of which can be life-threatening."

"Making things at home off of a Google recipe is potentially very dangerous for your baby," Dr. Stephen Lauer, a pediatrician with the University of Kansas Health System, told WDAF TV station this week.

Meanwhile, parents are desperately pleading for help on social media.

"If the MSM can talk about the toilet paper shortage ever hour, they should be talking about the baby formula shortage at least. ...We ended finding the Amazon brand online but not everyone is so lucky to be able to feed that. Please share. This is every store!" Danielle Miller tweeted with a picture of an empty shelve of formula.

the irony and idiocy......

 

[Dozdoats]

Joe Biden promised competence by a bigger, better government

With government, bigger is never better.

 

[Hognutz]

With government, bigger is never better.

“We’re from the Government and we’re here to help you”

 

[ohiohippie]

Back to nursing.
Best option!

 

[Doomer Doug]

Let me guess: MADE IN CHINA?

 

[hunybee]

Let me guess: MADE IN CHINA?

made in michigan

 

[cyberiot]

Back in the day, nursing women were encouraged to add beer to their diet. The extra fluid and calories increased production, and the alcohol relaxed the mother, thus ramping up the flow rate. Plus which, beer is loaded with B vitamins.

Everybody wins.

 

[pauldingbabe]

Back in the day, nursing women were encouraged to add beer to their diet. The extra fluid and calories increased production, and the alcohol relaxed the mother, thus ramping up the flow rate. Plus which, beer is loaded with B vitamins.

Everybody wins.

View attachment 338762View attachment 338765View attachment 338762

I use hops in sleepy time tea. Ashwanga works like a charm too.

I never used any while breastfeeding so I don't know about that. I would consult an herbalist or natural practioner.

A local Doola might have some info on herbies.

Susan Weed is an amazing Woman herbalist and I'm sure she has an answer. Rosemary Gladstar and Phillis D Light have good herbal books for the ladies.

Rosemary Gladstar even wrote one for the Gents. A whole book. Just for Men. It's a damn fine book too!

 

[anna43]

I could not nurse. I know many who could not at all (like me) or who did not have enough milk so had to supplement with formula. I have been shamed numerous times because I "didn't nurse" by the holier than thou who could. DON'T DO THAT.

If I had an infant today, I would be buying evaporated milk and karo and using that if commercial formulas weren't available. Remember FED is all that's necessary for an infant. Doesn't matter if it's mom's milk, goat's milk, evaporated milk or manufactured formula as long as the baby thrives on it. Remember commercial baby formulas are money makers for corporations and mothers have been convinced they MUST feed their babies with them. Not necessarily true. Same way with baby food. It's easy to make your own and when you do, you'll discover how much water is added to get the consistency of what you buy.

 

[meezy]

I could not nurse. I know many who could not at all (like me) or who did not have enough milk so had to supplement with formula. I have been shamed numerous times because I "didn't nurse" by the holier than thou who could. DON'T DO THAT.

I have been on both sides. I've felt inadequate and ashamed because I failed at breastfeeding my firstborn. After years of reflection, I know exactly why it didn't work. She was induced 2 weeks early and taken away from me for NICU observation, and I didn't get her back till 11 hours later. By then she'd been bottle fed a few times and it was too late. I pumped like crazy but eventually had to surrender.

Then when my 2nd was born he took to BF'ing like the proverbial duck to water. I nursed him for 2.5 years, no lie. I was afraid to quit because he was such a picky eater (still is). Plus I knew he'd probably be my last.

But I didn't feel smug about my success. I felt grateful. I also felt sad for other moms who could have succeeded if only given a bit more help, such as from La Leche League. I was getting WIC at the time, and was in discussions with one of the nutritionists there to develop a support program for WIC recipients to promote BF'ing. Did you know, instead of formula, BF'ing moms on WIC can get extra food like tuna and carrots? But then we moved, and DH got a better job, so it never happened.

And there's still the stigma because so many people think BF'ing is GROSS. Geez.

 

[nvmom]

anna43,
I couldn’t breastfeed either and my daughter who just had her second baby last month can’t breastfeed so we have been scrambling to buy enough formula for the baby I wish other mothers would not shame mothers who can’t breastfeed!

 

[Marie]

Biden’s bread line crisis? Anatomy of the American baby formula shortage

A president who promised competence was caught flat footed by agency failure, supply chain woes and inflation, and baby parents are now in a panic.

justthenews.com

Biden’s bread line crisis? Anatomy of the American baby formula shortage
A president who promised competence was caught flat footed by agency failure, supply chain woes and inflation, and baby parents are now in a panic.


By John Solomon
Updated: May 7, 2022 - 11:37pm

• At the outset of his presidency, Joe Biden promised competence by a bigger, better government. A few days ago, one of his loyal allies exposed a gross incompetence by federal officials on Biden’s watch that defied that promise and inflamed a baby formula shortage now panicking parents nationwide.

Rep. Rose DeLauro, D-Conn., a reliable liberal ally, unveiled documents showing the Biden Food and Drug Administration was alerted by a whistleblower last fall about potential contamination issues at the Abbott Nutrition baby formula factory in Michigan and failed for months to act aggressively.

“The FDA reacted far too slowly to this report,” DeLauro said in releasing a letter to the Health and Human Services inspector general demanding an immediate investigation to an incident that has led to babies being sickened and dying and a belated recall that has emptied shelves of formula nationwide.

DeLauro_OIG Request Infant Formula Recall.pdf

The congresswoman, the chairwoman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, laid out a four-month-long trail of federal bumbles and stumbles: the report came in Oct. 20, the whistleblower didn’t even get interviewed for two months, the plant didn’t get inspected until Jan. 31 and the recall didn’t get issued until Feb. 17.

“Why did the FDA not spring into action?” she implored during a congressional hearing. “Why did it take four months to pull this formula off store shelves? How many infants were fed contaminated formula during this time, by parents who trusted that the formula they were buying was safe? How many additional illnesses and deaths were there due to FDA’s slow response?”

Now the bureaucratic stumbling has escalated into a national crisis, as video of bare shelves and panicked parents harken in America some of the same fears and images as the bread lines and rationing that befell the Soviet Union in the early 1990s just before its collapse.

The problems began even before the recall as inflation, labor shortages and supply chain slowdowns began putting pressure on the baby food staple last fall.

In November, baby formula was already substantially more expensive and supply shortages had already risen to 11%. By the first week of April, the shortages had soared to 31%, and last week the number stood at a stunning 40%, according to statistics kept by Datasembly.

The escalating shortages have prompted major stores such as Target, CVS and Walgreens to ration supplies with purchase limits.

"This is a shocking number that you don't see for other categories," Datasembly CEO Ben Reich told CBS MoneyWatch on Friday.

The crisis has both political and personal consequences.

Many millennial and Gen Z child-bearing parents were part of the coalition that propelled Biden to his election win. And some parents are now facing life-and-death consequences, especially for children with rare digestive disorders.

"If this doesn’t get fixed soon, I don’t know how my son will survive," Phoebe Carter, whose 5-year-old son suffers from a rare digestive and immune system disease, told Politico on Saturday. "I just can’t stress that enough."

The poor and working class – whom Biden promised hope in his inaugural speech – are also disproportionately affected. A food bank in Seattle was so desperate to get some baby formula it recently held an emergency drive.

Alfredo Ortiz, president of the small business group Job Creators Network, said the baby formula crisis follows a pattern of other economic failures by the Biden administration.

“The only thing the Biden administration seems to be efficient at is burying their heads in the sand,” he said. “These are the same bureaucrats that told us for months that inflation was only transitory and would resolve itself. Then they tried to tell small business owners that their supply chain issues had been resolved even though we could all see cargo ships backed up for miles at several ports nationwide.

”Unfortunately, it comes as no surprise that they have failed to protect even the most innocent Americans from their incompetence,” he added.

The shortages are also raising fears that parents might be tempted to concoct their own formulas or water down current store-bought formulas to stretch supplies, two actions experts say are fraught with danger.

The FDA strongly urges parents not to make their own formulas, saying contamination and inadequate nutrients in home-brewed formulas can lead to everything from "severe nutritional imbalances to food-borne illnesses, both of which can be life-threatening."

"Making things at home off of a Google recipe is potentially very dangerous for your baby," Dr. Stephen Lauer, a pediatrician with the University of Kansas Health System, told WDAF TV station this week.

Meanwhile, parents are desperately pleading for help on social media.

"If the MSM can talk about the toilet paper shortage ever hour, they should be talking about the baby formula shortage at least. ...We ended finding the Amazon brand online but not everyone is so lucky to be able to feed that. Please share. This is every store!" Danielle Miller tweeted with a picture of an empty shelve of formula.

That's rich. I was lucky enough to be fed on karo syrup and raw cows milk. My kids were breast fed till they were 6 months old and because all my kids got teeth at 3 months old were transitioned to , oh my god, whole milk. I wouldn't feed formula to my kids. Ever see the ingredients in baby formula?Yes there are some who have milk allergies but A2 milk (jersey, Guernsey, goat) are generally a success in alleviating that allergy. Several family members and most of our customers have bought our milk for that reason.

 

[ShadowMan]

And that's why GOD made breasts!! Freaking ingenious when you think about it. Not to mention pretty darn beautiful on top of everything else.

Also, that's why there are Breast Maids. Yes for some women it takes a little bit of time for things to do what they are supposed to do. But there is a way WITHOUT artifical commercial means.

 

[von Koehler]

My ex could only supply about 40 percent of what the baby needed.

 

[ainitfunny]

My first and last baby were ok, but my middle baby was a preemie with very a VERY VERY WEAK suck reflex. She couldn't nurse and we sure tried, me and la leche league volunteers. I had lots of milk.

I had to put her on pet canned milk and karo syrup and enlarge the hole in the baby bottle nipple. She did fine after that.

She was 5 lb even, when she was born, but lost down to about 4.5 lbs before We could get food into her.

 

[hunybee]

i understand that this topic gets very heated at times.

but i will again state that this thread is not about the arguments for or against, or shaming either way, or anything like that. i can start a different thread for that if everyone wants to have that discussion. let me know.

i really want to offer solutions to this problem that is very current and right now, however those solutions arise.

some problems need both immediate and long term solutions, both. this is one of them.

 

[Melodi]

I think that the stark solution to this problem if a family is really totally out of formula and there is none to be had, is to either try the old evaporated milk and kayo syrup - with the understanding that many babies can't tolerate cows milk, especially when very young and that the syrup is now mostly made from GMO corn. Also that any water added must be sterilized (boiled and cooled first). Goat's milk from the shop would also be something to try if there is any.

The other choice is the one I suggested and maybe the only option if the baby reacts badly to the evaporated milk (or goat's milk if you can get it - goats milk has been used for at least 10,000 years to try and feed babies) and that is the emergency room.

Yes, there will probably be an unpayable medical bill at the end, but the baby is pretty likely to survive; any hospital that didn't care for an infant and let it starve to death would be open to a bankruptcy full of lawsuits. They can keep the baby hydrated and they can source the formula as they have emergency measures and contacts not available to the average person.

If it is bad enough, the States can call out the national guard or even request the military help source formula - that isn't a great solution either, but sometimes (once in a while) pulling in local government as well as charitable sources in an emergency is at least part of the way to go. In theory that is part of their job, not deciding how long the grass is on your lawn...

 

[hunybee]

here is a link to another thread i started for breastfeeding vs formula and/or wet nursing! feel free to discuss the merits of any of those vs the others!


breast feeding vs formula feeding (and also wet nursing) discussion

 

[Marie]

i understand that this topic gets very heated at times.

but i will again state that this thread is not about the arguments for or against, or shaming either way, or anything like that. i can start a different thread for that if everyone wants to have that discussion. let me know.

i really want to offer solutions to this problem that is very current and right now, however those solutions arise.

some problems need both immediate and long term solutions, both. this is one of them.

Absolutely true. I find it incredibly uneducated or uninformed that people shame for that. I know plenty of people who couldn't breastfeed. My huge beef is with formula I feel it is incredibly unhealthy there are artificial sweeteners in many formulas just to mention 1 of the ingredients. There are necessary vitamins and minerals but that can be attained through vitamin drops. The rest of the Ingredients besides the milk powder (yuck) is absolute crap as far as I'm concerned. If I couldn't have breastfed I absolutely would have used milk and karo syrup over commercial formula.

 

[homecanner1]

We have many past threads on the topic of nursing and if the new mom can, she should give it a year effort. Many find themselves in a disaster zone with no power, no refrigeration, no way to sterilize or heat a bottle. And quickly realize that breast milk is sanitary, no potable water needed to mix it, temp regulated and portability factor is unbeatable. True of blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods or even fires and forced from a household.

The Evap/Karo recipe making rounds is not ideal but we are talking prevention of starvation. The light corn syrup will provide some nutrition. Tho others are suggesting Agave Nectar and Goat Milk Powder. Now those two items are lovely but hard to come by in rural areas with basic provisions and no organic aisle section. Just about everyone has cans of evap milk, a bottle of karo corn syrup, molasses (iron), brown rice water (niacin) and a teaspoon of Sunflower oil (lecithin) or Coconut oil to shake in a jar if the grid is out. Churches and Food Pantries need to anticipate this crisis is going to worsen and stock up now

Grandmas, same advice, one shelf in the pantry for any grandbaby needs and they are not used, can be donated to others. Not all mommas can make enough or the baby too weak to latch on. These old recipes were developed to help with foundlings and orphans and tho not perfect, kept little ones alive. Time maybe to get a network of wetnurses on standby too.

I dread this is the "new normal".

 

[john70]

NICE TO KNOW YOU CAN FEED A KID WITHOUT A "LAB"

 

[hunybee]

and again, if they talk about it at all, they tell them NOT to do anything about the problem.

read this article and tell me this is fine.....

Pediatrician warns parents against homemade baby formula amidst crisis

A pediatrician has warned parents not to feed their babies with homemade formula, as the US experiences a staggering shortage of formula following a national recall.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Pediatrician warns parents that making baby formula at home can be deadly for their infants as shortages caused by recall and supply crisis lead moms and dads to resort to extreme measures

• An Ohio pediatrician warned parents against making their own baby formula, as supplies of the vital product have reached critical lows
• Sarah Adams, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio, cited FDA reports that link homemade formulas to infant deaths
• As of April 24, 40-50 percent of top selling brands of baby formula were out of stock at stores across the United States, as desperation among parents grows
• Parents and politicians alike have turned their ire on President Biden, who has made no comment about the shortage as of yet

A pediatrician has warned parents not to feed their babies with homemade formula as the US experiences a staggering shortage of the product following a national recall.

Writing to Fox News Digital on Friday, Sarah Adams, a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, warned that the homemade formula recipes that many parents are reportedly turning to could be potentially fatal.

'I do NOT recommend making your own formula,' Adams wrote, ''The AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics] strongly advises against homemade formula.'

'These [options] are not safe and not FDA approved — infant deaths have been reported.'

Despite her claims, there have been no recent reports of deaths related to homemade baby formula.

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The bare shelves of the Toddler Nutrition and Instant Formula aisle at a Target in Orlando, Florida. The shortage of baby formula has sent parents online seeking homemade options

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Doctors also warn against diluting formula to make it last, or using milk alternatives, as it could leave infants malnourished without necessary nutrients

Sarah Adams, a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, told Fox News Digital that feeding babies homemade formula could be potentially fatal
As of 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.

Parents have been turning to homemade recipes tracked down online to hold them over through the shortage, but Adams and other authorities say this practice is not safe.

'Although feeding babies regular milk or making homemade formula was common decades ago, it is not a safe or recommended practice,' wrote Dr. Steven A. Abrams, on Healthychildren.org, 'Formula mixtures made from online or other resources may not have vital components, such as enough iron or vitamins for a baby.'

Barren aisles once filled with baby formula are the common sight at stores across America

'Or, they may have too much salt or other nutrients that your baby's kidneys and liver cannot handle in large amounts.'

In 2021, the FDA issued a warning against homemade formulas after a number of infants fed off of recipes were hospitalized with hypocalcemia, a deficiency of calcium in the blood that can lead to seizures.

'The FDA has stated that the agency does not recommend that consumers make infant formulas at home because of potentially very serious health concerns,' a spokesperson for the FDA said last year.

'It is not safe,' Dr. Lisa Gaw, a pediatrician with Texas Children's Urgent Care in Austin told KXAN, Austin after the FDA's warning, 'There's contamination leading to infection and illness risk and then there is a risk that your child may not be getting everything that he or she needs.' (again, the irony....)

'When they are this young their bodies are still developing and the way they process things are a little different than say a one-year-old toddler. Too little or too much of any nutrient, whether it's vitamin or mineral, can be harmful to an infant in the age group. They're still developing.'

Experts have also warned against diluting formula or replacing it with cow's milk.

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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

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The FDA 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'
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. (THAT is their solution...)

The advice comes as parents are shelling out as much as $800 on eBay for cans of baby formula that normally cost $50, and are canvasing stores across entire regions to track down formula.

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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For the week of April 3, at least 12 states faced out of stock rates higher than 40 percent, including Connecticut, Delaware, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island

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Many parents have become irate by the lack of media attention the shortage has received
'We've called the WIC office,' Jill Bradford, a foster mother to a 5-month-old baby girl with medical needs 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.'

Bradford said had less than two days of the special amino acid-based formula the baby needs at the time of the interview.

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.

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Parents and politicians alike are slamming President Biden for his failure to address the US' ongoing baby formula shortage, which has reach crisis levels in recent weeks

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Even Democrats are pleading the president take action, with US Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island sending a letter to Biden last month urging his administration to take action to address the shortage
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.'


News4Jax Privacy Policy

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

'I pray for the women who have babies who are not old enough for solid food,' Pyeatt said.

'Never did I think I would have a problem finding food for my baby in America,' said Russel Bleck, 33, a father from Lexington, Kentucky, in an interview with Fox News Digital on Friday.

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The shortage has left parents like Russell and Bre Bleck of Kentucky frantically searching for formula in stores and online. 'The panic of possibly not being able to feed my baby was intense,' Bleck, 33, said, pleading for both the government and media to address the crisis. Pictured is the couple with their 3-year-old daughter, Aurora

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The pair welcome their second child, son Asher, six weeks ago, and say they have since had great difficulty finding formula for the infant
Ire over the shortage has been turned on President Biden, who critics from both parties have accused of staying silent on the issue, and pouring billions into the Ukraine while the US' most vulnerable starve.

'This is horrific,' Indiana congressman Jim Banks wrote in a tweet criticizing the president - whose administration has provided more than $4 billion to Ukraine since he was elected, with plans to shell out billions more in the coming months.

'In six states, more than 50% of baby formula is out of stock,' Banks, a Republican, wrote.

'Across the country, the price of formula is up nearly 20 percent from last year,' he went on, also noting the current inflation crisis that has emerged in the little more than two years since Biden assumed office.

'Young parents are having to ration food. The disastrous Joe Biden economy is turning into a crisis.'

Louisiana rep. Steve Scalise also offered the president some strong words over social media this week in regards to the shortage.

'Parents already have to worry about higher gas prices, expensive groceries, and higher utility bills. And now? No baby formula on the shelves. Thanks, Biden,' the politician wrote.

Even Democrats are pleading the president take action, with US Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island sending a letter to Biden last month urging his administration to take action to address the shortage.

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The national shortage, which experts say stems from pandemic-related supply-chain issues, has worsened in recent months, spurring a slew of conservative commentators to criticize President Biden's hesitance to address the situation

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'This recent baby formula shortage is causing a lot of stress for new parents and it can be hard to find a specific brand at local stores,' Reed wrote.

'But the good news is there is plenty of baby formula to go around, we just need to get it to those in need. (really? because everything else is saying otherwise)

'I want to ensure the federal government is doing its part, being proactive, and helping new moms and dads and solve this issue,' said Reed. (it does not appear to be the case actually)

The politician then poised a series of questions to the president - which have since remained unanswered.

'1. What steps have your agencies taken to minimize the impact of the immediate shortage?,' Reed wrote.

'2. When do your agencies expect baby formula inventory to be back to sufficient levels?'

'3. What measures should be taken in the long term to minimize the supply chain disruptions for what is an essential product for many families?'

The president has yet to comment on or address the shortage.

 

[hunybee]

NO solutions. NO stop gaps.

if anyone is not seeing it, i'll say it again:

goat milk is almost identical to human breast milk. it is and has been the go to for millennia, as well as cow milk. goat milk is better than cow, but cow is most certainly better than nothing!

that article above just tried to scare people and gave no solutions.

there is much in that article i would love if they expanded on, but they did not and will not.

it actually made me pretty angry since they lied not only outright, but by omission as well.

 

[hunybee]

so in addition to trying to find solutions to the formula problem immediately, lets also try to acquire the items and teach people now how to increase the success of breastfeeding.

there are things that can really help a new mother (or a mother that is having trouble with another kids) to make breastfeeding easier.

sadly, so many of the things that can help are poo poo'd and looked down on by many.

there are accoutrements, items, foods, herbs, information, etc that people are simple not told of. they have no idea how to solve a problem, and so many times, the problem can easily be solved, but there is no working towards that.

if i wasn't so damned stubborn and never give up, my kids would have ended up on formula. the reason? because the MEDICAL people and the lactation consultants were absolutely worthless.

and yes, i said lactations consultants. they were worthless.

what i found is that there really isn't a solid standard that is followed.

if your area does not have a good one, you are out of luck. i knew more than the consultants around here, and i had to teach them! and so many of them just give up. if it isn't and easy fix...oh well....

on the flip side, some just hammer mothers that are having trouble and blame them.
neither of these are good, nor helpful.


another thing lacking in many (not all), is a lack of patience. lack of patients by the medical and lactation people. some are wonderful, and sadly many or not.

again, if it isn't picked up on right away or if there are any problems that are unforeseen, they just get frustrated and thats the end.

i lost count how many times a lactation consultant was was too pure and would not "allow" the mother to use anything to get the baby to nurse if it wasn't simply her breast only! they would then turn them away.

inverted nipples? they either didn't know about it and couldn't help, or they just said you had to work it out with the baby.
no instructions.

how is that informational and helpful?

i say use what you have to to get the job done.

let us also then get the things and give them to the mothers that want to nurse that can help them.

 

[john70]

HOW DID WE GET SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD IF THEY ALL HAD TO BE FED FORMULA FROM “Abbott Labs “ OR “Enfamil”
FEED IT GOAT MILK
MAKE YOUR OWN FORMULA















“Sarah Adams, a pediatrician at Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio, told Fox News Digital that feeding babies homemade formula could be potentially fatal”

BS….SOUNDS LIKE THE GOOD DR AND OR HOSPITAL IS GETTING A LOT OF FUNDING FROM “Abbott Labs “ OR “Enfamil”


“'Although feeding babies regular milk or making homemade formula was common decades ago, it is not a safe or recommended practice,' wrote Dr. Steven A. Abrams, on Healthychildren.org, 'Formula mixtures made from online or other resources may not have vital components, such as enough iron or vitamins for a baby.' “


BS...TOTAL SELL OUT BY DR. ABRAMS

I BET
Healthychildren.org

GET MOST OF THEIR FUNDING FROM “Abbott Labs “ OR “Enfamil” OR SOME OTHER LAB

 

[john70]

so in addition to trying to find solutions to the formula problem immediately, lets also try to acquire the items and teach people now how to increase the success of breastfeeding.

there are things that can really help a new mother (or a mother that is having trouble with another kids) to make breastfeeding easier.

sadly, so many of the things that can help are poo poo'd and looked down on by many.

there are accoutrements, items, foods, herbs, information, etc that people are simple not told of. they have no idea how to solve a problem, and so many times, the problem can easily be solved, but there is no working towards that.

if i wasn't so damned stubborn and never give up, my kids would have ended up on formula. the reason? because the MEDICAL people and the lactation consultants were absolutely worthless.

and yes, i said lactations consultants. they were worthless.

what i found is that there really isn't a solid standard that is followed.

if your area does not have a good one, you are out of luck. i knew more than the consultants around here, and i had to teach them! and so many of them just give up. if it isn't and easy fix...oh well....

on the flip side, some just hammer mothers that are having trouble and blame them.
neither of these are good, nor helpful.


another thing lacking in many (not all), is a lack of patience. lack of patients by the medical and lactation people. some are wonderful, and sadly many or not.

again, if it isn't picked up on right away or if there are any problems that are unforeseen, they just get frustrated and thats the end.

i lost count how many times a lactation consultant was was too pure and would not "allow" the mother to use anything to get the baby to nurse if it wasn't simply her breast only! they would then turn them away.

inverted nipples? they either didn't know about it and couldn't help, or they just said you had to work it out with the baby.
no instructions.

how is that informational and helpful?

i say use what you have to to get the job done.

let us also then get the things and give them to the mothers that want to nurse that can help them.

hunybee

YOU ARE A RAY OF SUNSHINE IN A SEA OF DARKNESS

 

[thompson]

because the MEDICAL people and the lactation consultants were absolutely worthless.

I must say something.

My very dearest friend in the world, a woman older than I, just retired from lactation consulting after multiple decades. She was absolutely the opposite of what you, and several other people here have had experience with. I have also known other lactation consultants who were extremely helpful to mothers and had a very high success rate. Not all lactation consultants are the same, and you really shouldn't spread that information around. There are some terrible ones, and guess what? MOST of them are La Leche League based or trained; that was both her experience over the years, and mine when I worked newborn nursery almost 50 years ago. There are some very successful ones, and those women are treasured by parents and good doctors alike. Many of good consultants now choose to work with midwives as opposed to hospital settings.

 

[hunybee]

I must say something.

My very dearest friend in the world, a woman older than I, just retired from lactation consulting after multiple decades. She was absolutely the opposite of what you, and several other people here have had experience with. I have also known other lactation consultants who were extremely helpful to mothers and had a very high success rate. Not all lactation consultants are the same, and you really shouldn't spread that information around. There are some terrible ones, and guess what? MOST of them are La Leche League based or trained; that was both her experience over the years, and mine when I worked newborn nursery almost 50 years ago. There are some very successful ones, and those women are treasured by parents and good doctors alike. Many of good consultants now choose to work with midwives as opposed to hospital settings.

I did not say there a were all bad.

There ARE some good ones. There are some excellent ones. This is not what everyone gets though. Just like drs and nurses. There are good and there are bad.

What information should I not "spread around"? That there are some bad ones? There are.

The part you quoted was talking about me in my area. It is a big area too. There are a few good ones around here, but nowhere close.

People do not know if they are le leches or not. Many hospitals use those lactation consultants.

Me saying there are bad ones does not mean there are not good ones. The good ones around here are like unicorns.

 

[thompson]

I did not say there a were all bad.

There ARE some good ones. There are some excellent ones. This is not what everyone gets though. Just like drs and nurses. There are good and there are bad.

What information should I not "spread around"? That there are some bad ones? There are.

The part you quoted was talking about me in my area. It is a big area too. There are a few good ones around here, but nowhere close.

People do not know if they are le leches or not. Many hospitals use those lactation consultants.

Me saying there are bad ones does not mean there are not good ones. The good ones around here are like unicorns.

Hunybee, when one says 'lactation consultants are worthless', or 'hospice care is terrible and all they want to do is hasten a death', that might seem true for the person saying it, but it's not a universal experience. YET, many, many people will read that, or hear that, and will dismiss - out of hand - services that could greatly help them. Without checking anything out, or even giving someone a chance. AND, when someone goes in with a poor attitude, "They are worthless, this won't help me", the chances are pretty good their experience will be less than optimal. This has been my experience over a long time.

 

[Thinwater]

My wife had an excess when we had our daughter so I had to step up and help her out with not letting it go to waist. I gained weight for the first time in my life.

 

[hunybee]

Hunybee, when one says 'lactation consultants are worthless', or 'hospice care is terrible and all they want to do is hasten a death', that might seem true for the person saying it, but it's not a universal experience. YET, many, many people will read that, or hear that, and will dismiss - out of hand - services that could greatly help them. Without checking anything out, or even giving someone a chance. AND, when someone goes in with a poor attitude, "They are worthless, this won't help me", the chances are pretty good their experience will be less than optimal. This has been my experience over a long time.

I still tell people to go to the lactation consultant. I tell them they can help. I also ask how it's going and if things have improved. I don't tell them they won't help. I am positive about it for them. Usually, the response when I ask how things are going is it isn't going well. This is after they have tried the consultants around here. I purposefully have a positive attitude about it because I want it to be good. Most of the time, they regret going and wonder why I have told them to try it.

This has been so many's experience around here. They WERE worthless. I. Not saying all are. I'm saying the ones in my experience were. Sadly it seems that is the conclusion that is arrived at by lots of other mothers here.

 

[anna43]

My guess on why doctors would consider it dangerous for families to make formula at home would be because it requires sterilization when you are making bottles ahead and refrigerating them. Also, younger doctors probably are trained to freak out over not using commercial formulas. I'm not sure plastic bottles made today are up to the sterilization process. Yes, we would all agree that the vitamins added into manufactured formulas would be missing from homemade formula which is why the baby should be given vitamins.

One piece of baby equipment back in the day was a bottle sterilizer either for stove top or electric. I had stovetop, my sister had electric. Sister started with stovetop, but let it boil dry and it melted down. Come to think of it, I think it was my stovetop sterilizer she melted down!

One absolute is NEVER use honey as sweetener in formula. In fact, a child under one should never have honey.

My youngest was on soybean formula for her first year. After that she needed goat milk which was only available in cans and expensive. We bought a good milk goat for $15 which provided our family of 5 with milk for the next two years. The doctor had a fit when he found out I was feeding dd raw goat milk, so I changed doctors. New doctor thought it was a good idea.

 

[ShadowMan]

It would also help if mothers told and taught their daughters about breast feeding. My ex had a hellva time with our first child. She just didn't produce enough milk. Then her mother told her "Well, I couldn't fully breast feed until my third baby." WHAT? That kind of information would have been nice to know don't you think? My poor ex thought she was an absolute failure as a mother when in fact it was a genetic thing. After that she absolutely refused to even try to breast feed with our two other kids. GEE THANKS MOM!

 

[ghost]

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.

They are being stolen by the secret government for their on use.
GODS, knows them all and will deal with them, his way !