Abbott reaches agreement with FDA to reopen baby formula plant to ease nationwide shortage

A woman shops for baby formula at Target in Annapolis, Maryland, on May 16, 2022, as a nationwide shortage of baby formula continues due to supply chain crunches tied to the coronavirus pandemic that have already strained the countrys formula stock, an issue that was further exacerbated by a major product recall in February.

The company announced on Monday that it had reached an agreement with the FDA to reopen its manufacturing plant in Michigan to help alleviate a nationwide baby formula shortage.

Abbott said it can restart the Michigan plant within two weeks. It would take six to eight weeks from the start of production to get formula to store shelves, according to the company. The consent decree between Abbott and the FDA is subject to court approval.

The White House is taking steps to import baby formula from other countries.

There is a nationwide shortage of formula that has left shelves empty in many stores. Datasembly, a company that tracks retail data, said that 40% of baby formula was out of stock in the US.

The supply shortage was caused by the closing of Abbott Nutrition's manufacturing plant in Michigan after four infants who consumed formula from the facility fell ill and two of them died. Abbott is the largest infant formula manufacturer.

Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause blood infections, was found at the plant. According to the FDA, Abbott destroyed some of its product due to the presence ofbacteria at the plant.

Abbott issued a voluntary recall of its products made at the Michigan plant. Abbott said last week that no formula distributed to consumers from the plant tested positive for the Cronobacter strains found in the plant.

The FDA finished its inspection in March. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no new cases of infants with Cronobacter after consuming products from the Michigan facility.

This is a breaking news story. You can check back for updates.