Abbott Nutrition CEO Robert Ford apologized on Saturday for the nationwide baby formula shortage, writing that his firm is “sorry” for the crisis and vowing to prioritize its most vital products.
The low supply of baby formula has been worsening for months. The White House’s website explains that on February 17, Abbott Nutrition “initiated a voluntary recall of several lines of powdered formula” from its facility in Sturgis, Michigan, amid concerns over bacterial contamination. Federal agencies have been working “diligently over the last few months to address the shortfall in infant formula production” while the plant remains shuttered, according to the White House.
Ford said in a Washington Post opinion piece that his firm takes “great pride in manufacturing nutrition and formula to feed America’s infants, including our most vulnerable” — but recognized that “the past few months have distressed us as they have you.”
“And so I want to say: We’re sorry to every family we’ve let down since our voluntary recall exacerbated our nation’s baby formula shortage,” he wrote.
“We believe our voluntary recall was the right thing to do,” Ford continued. “We will not take risks when it comes to the health of children. The data collected during the investigation, genetic sequencing, retained product samples and available product from the four complaints did not find any connection between our products and the four reported illnesses in children. However, the FDA’s investigation did discover a bacteria in our plant that we will not tolerate. I have high expectations of this company, and we fell short of them.”
Ford especially mourned the shortage of EleCare — a formula for children who are unable to digest other products — and vowed to prioritize its production once manufacturing resumes. In the meantime, Abbott launched a $5 million fund to aid parents whose children have been hospitalized due to the shortage.
“I will not mince words — this is tragic and heartbreaking, and it is consuming my thoughts and those of my colleagues,” Ford added.
President Biden is attempting to resolve the baby formula shortage with “Operation Fly Formula,” through which the military is importing the product from Europe.
“Folks, I’m excited to tell you that the first flight from Operation Fly Formula is loaded up with more than 70,000 pounds of infant formula and about to land in Indiana,” Biden tweeted on Sunday. “Our team is working around the clock to get safe formula to everyone who needs it.”
The shipment of baby formula that arrived on Sunday will be distributed across the country, a Biden administration official told CNN. The formula in the initial load is bound for hospitals, doctors, home health care facilities, and pharmacies in regions with the most serious needs. The shortage has rendered parents frustrated as shelves remain bare at popular retailers like Walmart and Target. Many of these retailers have imposed limits on formula purchases such that mothers cannot stock up even when it becomes available. Most brands are also sold out online or are being offered by third-party sellers for exorbitant prices.
According to a report released by Datasembly last month, the out-of-stock rate for baby formula surged to 23% by January and 31% by April.
“Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” Datasembly CEO Ben Reich said in the report. “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions.”