The company that caused a national shortage of baby formula when it shut down a leading production plant in February said on Saturday that the site has resumed production.
Hope that the formula shortage that has sent stressed parents scrambling would be alleviated was renewed after the restart of the plant in Michigan.
According to Datasembly, the out-of-stock rates at stores across the country had gone up to about 74 percent. The crisis was made worse by the plant's closing because of the supply issues.
Abbott said in a statement that it was working hard to restart production of Similac and other formulas after the release of EleCare.
The top priority of the company is to get high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families. While meeting all requirements, we will ramp production as soon as possible.
Abbott recalled three types of infant formula in February after four babies became sick from consuming it.
The F.D.A. received three consumer complaints about Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause life threatening infections or inflammation of the brain and spine. There was no conclusive evidence that the company's formulas were linked to the illnesses.
The commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration told a House panel that the plant had a leaking roof, water pooling on the floor and cracks in production equipment that allowedbacteria to get in and persist.
The agency was too slow in addressing the problems at the plant.
In a statement on Saturday, the F.D.A. said that it had investigators at the plant for several days to observe improvements. The facility was negative for Cronobacter according to Abbott.
A consent decree the company signed with the government provides a number of new safeguards, including hiring a qualified expert to oversee improvements at the plant and notifying the F.D.A. if it finds any contaminated soil.
More and more infant formula is on the way to or already on store shelves as a result of the steps taken by the agency.
Parents rushed to stock up on formula, sometimes driving for hours, as networks formed on social media to help connect them with dwindling supplies after the plant shut down.
There is a problem. A nationwide shortage of baby formula has left parents confused and concerned. There are some ways to deal with uncertainty.
There is a formula for finding it. If your baby's formula wasn't affected by the recall, but still isn't in stock, you can call your local store to inquire when it will be back in stock. You can purchase it online. If your baby is on special formula, it is a good idea to go to your doctor's office.
A new formula is being picked. If you use a name brand formula, look for a generic one. You can find a new formula that matches the ingredients in your usual one. Check with your doctor if your baby is on a special formula.
The person is transitioning to a new product You want to switch your child slowly. You should mix three quarters of your usual formula with one quarter of the new one. You might notice more gassiness or fussiness during the transition if you can't transition gradually because you've run out of your formula.
What should not be done? If you can't find your baby's usual formula, don't make your own, homemade formulas are often inadequate and at risk ofContamination Don't try to "Stretch" your formula by adding extra water and don't buy it from unvetted online marketplaces. Don't use toddler formula for babies less than one year old.
With store shelves bare in some communities, some parents have been so desperate that they have fed their infants powdered oatmeal cereal and fruit juice.
Steven A.Abrams, a professor of pediatrics at the Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, said on Saturday that imports from Europe and other countries will play a greater role in easing the shortage than the restart of the Sturgis plant.
The reopening of the Abbott plant will be a relief to parents of babies with severe allergies.
He said that the import of formulas from British, Australian and Mexican sources will have a larger impact on families.
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