U.S. News
Buttigieg blames Abbott for worsening baby formula shortage
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg blamed Abbott Nutrition for the worsening infant formula shortage in the country.
- Abbott, the nation’s largest manufacturer of formula, shut down its Michigan plant in February over safety concerns.
- Even when Buttigieg was asked about the government’s role as a regulator, he again pointed blame at Abbott.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pointed the blame at Abbott Nutrition — the largest infant formula supplier in the U.S. — for the worsening baby formula shortage in the country.
The shortages have been fueled by supply chain and workforce issues after a major recall of Abbott Nutrition products in February. Abbott also shut down its manufacturing plant in Michigan over safety concerns, stemming from an investigation by the Food and Drug Administration.
“Fundamentally, we are here because a company was not able to guarantee that its plant was safe, and that plant has shut down,” Buttigieg said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.
Even when Buttigieg was asked about the government’s role as a regulator, he again pointed at the company.
“Let’s be very clear. This is a capitalist country. The government does not make baby formula, nor should it. Companies make formula, and one of those companies — a company which, by the way, seems to have 40 percent market share — messed up and is unable to confirm that a plant, a major plant, is safe and free of contamination,” the former mayor said.
Buttigieg added that the Biden administration has been working with other infant formula manufacturers “to try to surge their production.” He said that the move helped increase production, “which is helping to compensate. But at the end of the day,” Abbott’s Michigan facility “needs to come back online safely.”
The nationwide shortage of baby formula is worsening. For the week starting April 24, 40% of the nation’s formula is out of stock, according to an analysis by Datasembly, a retail tracking company.
Some of Abbott’s products were recalled after reports that four infants were hospitalized due to a rare bacterial infection after consuming powdered formula made in the Michigan plant. Two deaths were reported.
The Biden administration has defended its response to the formula shortage.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki stressed that the White House has “not waited to take action.”
When asked if there was more the government could have done sooner, she replied, “Well look, hindsight is always 20-20.”
“But I would say, what’s important to note, is as much as this hasn’t been reported on, because people were not seeing shortages at the stores as much, there was an announced recall back in February and there were steps we have been taking every single day since then…to help address any potential shortage,” she added.
Source: The Hill
ox
May 17, 2022 at 11:27 am
The Transportation Secretary, should learn how to be honest. America is a capitalist country? Then why is the Transportation Secretary going along with the Socialist/Communist policies of Lying Corrupt Quid Pro KING Joe and the liberal commie Democrats. Corrupt Quid Pro an unqualified POTUS seems to surround himself with unqualified Bureaucrats, and the Transportation Secretary is no exception. The Transportation Secretary’s supposedly knowledge is of the Transportation Infrastructure of the U.S., how this equates to his knowledge of the FDA and the Abbott baby formula issue is anyone’s guess, and being a small town mayor from Indiana, doubt Buttigieg is qualified to be Transportation Secretary . Buttigieg is only projecting what he reads about the baby formula issue. Abbott was get the FDA for the longest time to inspect the lab for the longest time, and the FDA seemed to be tone deaf, as this could be assumed intentional by this inherently corrupt Administration. Buttigieg stocked up on plenty of baby formula, almost like insider trading, what does one expect, Buttigieg is a government official, the only problem is that this inherently corrupt government didn’t tell the rest of America, there was going to be a baby formula shortage.
tj
May 18, 2022 at 7:04 am
Ox, fully agree with your opinion and would like to add ,what were the safety violations that required shutting down factory? A Gov. that doesn’t produce anything but regulations that more often harbors and harms Industries and business. For most Gov. employees haven’t work in the private sector but only the Gov. unlimited empire
Leslie
May 17, 2022 at 4:14 pm
I guess all the baby formula shipped to illegal immigrants is a way of not wasting all recalled stock? If infant gets sick and dies from this “rare bacteria” I doubt MS media will report it as it will make administration look bad or they’ll just blame it on Trump.
Pete and his he/wife with their adoptive twins (gender fluid) won’t be affected by lack of formula because he belongs to the preferred party, and stocked up before shortage and recall. (To bad men can’t lactate and breast feed)
In the 70’s we breast feed, and made baby food by cooking and mashing real food. What’s wrong with moms these days?
tj
May 18, 2022 at 7:07 am
Leslie, my fear with your thinking(formula to Border) is if they get sick or die they can sue Manufacturer and this Presidency will offer expenses
Susan
May 18, 2022 at 9:53 pm
Some moms can’t breast feed! There are preemies & children with medical conditions that need specific formulas.
Biden administration just give flippant answers! Lucky for Buttigieg he gets inside information!!
Sean Richman
May 18, 2022 at 6:49 pm
Butt keg,keep your democRATic opinion to yourself.Nobody believes what you say,or respects your opinion.
Patti
May 18, 2022 at 7:17 pm
Heard this administration knew back in February there was a baby formula shortage! The shelves at the border are stocked with pallets of baby formula! Pictures were taken by a Representative in Congress. Administration knows. Caught in their lies! Hope they are found out by Mother’s searching and rationing their babies formula. Goes to show who they care ça out and it’s not Americans!