Biden invokes Defense Production Act to address baby formula shortage [Video]

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to address the baby formula shortage in the country.
• Invoking the measures would give formula producers priority in getting the ingredients they need.
• The Biden administration also plans to use military aircraft to obtain infant formula from overseas.

President Joe Biden invoked the Defense Production Act on Wednesday to address the baby formula shortage in the U.S.

The wartime act was recently invoked by Biden and former President Donald Trump to help curb the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure allows the federal government to require private suppliers to provide formula manufacturers with the needed ingredients ahead of any other customers.

“Directing firms to prioritize and allocate the production of key infant formula inputs will help increase production and speed up in supply chains,” the White House statement said.

Biden also announced another measure, “Operation Fly Formula”, that will allow using military aircraft to fly in FDA-approved formula from overseas.

The FDA said the U.S. usually produces 98% of the baby formula it consumes.

“I’ve directed my team to do everything possible to ensure there’s enough safe baby formula, and that it’s quickly reaching families that need it the most,” Biden said in a video shared online.

The formula shortage came after Abbott Nutrition shut down the Sturgis, Michigan plant in February due to safety concerns. The FDA started an investigation after complaints of bacterial infections related to Abbott powdered formula manufactured at the Sturgis plant.

According to the FDA, it received reports of two infant deaths and that a Cronobacteria infection may have been the culprit. Abbott has repeatedly denied that its powdered formula was to blame for the deaths, but a whistleblower revealed the company was lacking health and safety procedures at the plant.

Abbott, the largest infant formula manufacturer in the US, made a voluntary recall of several of its infant formulas and halted production at the Sturgis plant. This led to a shortage in supply and prompted retailers to limit how much formula consumers could buy in stores.

Earlier this week, the FDA and Abbott reached an agreement to reopen the plant and resume production. However, it would take about six to eight weeks for the products to hit the stores.

Biden first invoked the Defense Production Act on his second day in office to boost the production of pandemic safety equipment. Former President Donald Trump invoked the act in April 2020 in an attempt to keep meat plants active during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Newsweek