Abbott to Restart Production of Similac Baby Formula

A national shortage of baby formula was caused by Abbott Nutrition's decision to shut down a plant in Michigan.

The company hopes to alleviate the shortage that left parents across the country scrambling to feed their infants by ramping up production at the plant in Michigan.

The shortage started earlier this year after supply chain issues caused a scarcity of ingredients for formula, and it was worsened by the Michigan plant's troubles.

Robert B. Ford, the chief executive of Abbott, said that restarting Similac production was an important step in getting formula back on the shelves.

Mr. Ford said that parents could feel confident in the quality and safety of Abbott formulas. Parents and health care providers have placed trust in us for decades.

The company said it would take about six weeks for the product line to be shipped.

There could be stops and starts from time to time.

In February, Abbott voluntarily recalled batches of three formulas after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received consumer complaints about a bacterium that can cause life threatening infections or inflammation of the brain and spine.

At least two babies died and four others became sick after being fed formula at the plant. There is no conclusive evidence that the company's formulas cause illnesses.

The commissioner of the F.D.A. told a House panel in May that the plant had a leaking roof, water pooling on the floor and cracks in production equipment.

The conditions were unsanitary and he acknowledged that his agency should have acted quicker.

Abbott entered a consent decree with the government in order to provide a new set of safeguards.

The Abbott plant was forced to close again in June after severe storms flooded parts of the facility. The company said shipments of EleCare and other formulas are expected to arrive in the next few weeks.

Cronobacter sakazakii has been found in a few batches of formula. Abbot said that the issues were identified and that the products were not affected.

Abbott said it increased production at other plants after it shut down. More than eight million pounds of formula will be supplied to the US by the company in August, which is more than what it produced last August.