Mainstream media hasn’t been addressing the ongoing baby formula shortage the same way they melted down over not having enough toilet paper in 2020.
Parents are frustrated and stressed while trying to find infant formula for their children as the shelves remain bare at popular retailers including Walmart, Target, and grocery store chains, according to shoppers. Many of these retailers have instated limits on formula purchases, so even when their brand becomes available, moms can’t stock up.
Most brands are also sold out online, or are being offered by third party sellers for exorbitant prices.
This problem has become especially difficult for parents of children with intolerances who rely on certain brands that their babies are able to digest. “He has a very specific brand, Nutramigen, that he has to have due to allergy and intolerance issues,” one mom named Shauna Bowman explained to ABC News, describing her 11-month-old son Jacob. The outlet described the situation as “terrifying.”
“We have been having to look pretty heavily for it, I would say for the last four or five months,” Bowman explained. “But this last month it’s just become impossible to find.”
Shoppers have become used to shortages on popular items in grocery stores over the last two years as supply chain issues persist. A lack of baby formula, however, creates a deeper sense of urgency as parents become increasingly frantic that they can’t feed their children.
Unlike toilet paper, there are no easy alternatives to baby formula for parents who rely on it.
“If the [mainstream media] can talk about the toilet paper shortage ever (sic) hour, they should be talking about the baby formula shortage at least,” one woman tweeted. “We ended [up] finding the Amazon brand online but not everyone is so lucky to be able to feed that. Please share. This is every store!”
“When we ran to the local Target one day to get some [formula] just days after she was born, the shelves were completely empty,” one New York mom told Fox News. “My heart literally sank.”
“Luckily she doesn’t need any special formula and I was able to order online, but not everyone has been as lucky,” she explained. “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.”
“At what point are we going to start talking about the baby formula shortage? I shouldn’t have to cry & wonder how I’m going to feed my 4 month old!” one person tweeted at Georgia governor Brian Kemp.
Others on social media have been asking the White House to address the issue, or even just acknowledge it’s happening. Social media has been the main place parents are complaining and commiserating on the crisis.
FOX 29 reported that retail data firm Datasembly shows 40%-50% of major formula brands sold out last week in 26 states. The states most affected by the shortages are Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Texas.