FOG BLOG U.S. NEWS LOG: BREAKING NEWS , BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE , SUPPLIES AT 40 %!

U.S. baby formula shortage is worrying parents. Here’s what to know. Nationwide out of stock levels for infant formula hit 43 percent last week For months, U.S. parents and caregivers have been contending with dwindling supplies of baby formula. But in recent weeks, the products have been especially hard to find, forcing some retailers to limit purchases as the Food and Drug Administration scrambles to respond to the crisis. Roughly 1 in 4 parents exclusively breastfeed their children up to the age of 6 months, according to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaving the overwhelming majority of parents and caregivers at least partially dependent on formula.

Here’s what you need to know about the baby formula shortage. WHAT TO KNOW

Why is baby formula so hard to find?
What’s being done to address the baby formula shortage?
What if I need a specific type of baby formula?
Can I make my own formula at home?

Why is baby formula so hard to find?

THE shortage “has been compounded by supply chain challenges, product recalls and historic inflation,” said Ben Reich, chief executive of Datasembly, which tracks retail information. As of last week, formula stockpiles were 43 percent lower than normal, data show, compared with 30 to 40 percent readings last month. Ongoing supply chain disruptions tied to the coronavirus pandemic have fueled shortages of a wide range of consumer goods, but the lack of baby formula worsened in February after manufacturer Abbott issued a recall for products made at a Michigan plant and sold under the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare labels. Four children — one in Minnesota, one in Texas and two in Ohio — fell ill with bacterial infections, and two died.

The FDA said the bacterium Cronobacter sakazakii “may have contributed to the cause of death for both patients.”

Abbott said its own investigation concluded that the infant formula made at its Sturgis, Mich., facility is unlikely to be the source of the infections. On Wednesday, Abbott said it could restart production at the facility in two weeks, with clearance from the FDA, Reuters reported. It will take six to eight weeks for product to hit shelves once production comes back online, Abbott said.