Baby formula shortage worsens as national out-of-stock rate hits 43%

The national out-of-stock rate for infant and specialty formulas in the US hit a high of 43 percent in the first week of May, according to data released this week by Datasembly.

With bare shelves in stores, purchase limits, and online prices, parents across the country are struggling to feed formula-fed babies and children with medical conditions that necessitate specialized formulas. Parents drive hours to find formula or post pleas online in news reports. Some are even watering down formula.

Datasembly CEO Ben Reich says that the shortage is due to a number of factors.

The national out-of-stock rate stayed between 2 percent to 8 percent during the first half of the year, but has spiked since February.

In February, the situation got worse when the US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning that formula made by Abbott Nutrition's facility in Michigan could be contaminated with Cronobacter sakazakii. Abbott issued a recall of powder formulas after the warning.

Four infants became ill with Cronobacter infections after consuming formula that came from the facility. There were two infants that died in Ohio. The infections may have contributed to the deaths of the two infants, according to the FDA.

The out-of-stock rate for formula went from 30 percent at the beginning of April to 40 percent by the end of the month. The rise continues into May.

Boosting supply

In a statement released Wednesday, Abbott said it had found no evidence to link its formulas to the illnesses of infants. Updating cleaning and maintenance procedures is one of the things Abbott is working on.

Abbott said in its statement that the recall has worsened an already existing industry-wide infant formula shortage in the US and that it has been seeing and hearing the stress and despair of parents who are facing empty shelves. The FDA requested that we release the metabolic formulas that were on hold earlier this month.

The company hopes to get the facility back up and running in the next two weeks. It will take six to eight weeks for new formula to reach retail stores.

Robert Califf said in a release that the agency is doing everything it can to get more formula on the shelves.

We recognize that many consumers have been unable to access infant formula and critical medical foods they are accustomed to using and are frustrated by their inability to do so. We are doing everything in our power to ensure there is adequate product available where and when they need it. Ensuring the availability of safe, sole-source nutrition products like infant formula is of the utmost importance to the FDA. Our teams have been working tirelessly to address and alleviate supply issues and will continue doing everything within our authority to ensure the production of safe infant formula products.

The FDA said it was taking steps to boost production, including expediting regulatory reviews for formula makers. The agency is not objecting to Abbott releasing formula that has been on hold in its Sturgis facility on a case-by-case basis to parents needing urgent, life-sustaining supplies for specialty and metabolic formulas.