The FDA is facing an investigation into its handling of the baby formula shortage
The Food and Drug Administration is facing a federal investigation into whether it correctly followed its policies and procedures in the contamination and recall of baby formula that lead to a national shortage and the potential deaths of infants.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced on Thursday that it would specifically review whether or not the FDA correctly conducted inspections of Abbott's Sturgis, Mich., manufacturing facility at the center of the recall and if it correctly oversaw Abbott's initiation of the infant formula recall.
In February, Abbott issued a recall of some of its baby formula products after one of the company's plants was suspected of contamination of a bacteria called Cronobacter sakazakii, which infected four infants, two who died. The voluntary recall included certain lots of Similac, Similac Alimentum and EleCare formula products.
Read the whole article: https://www.npr.org/2022/06/03/1103025750/fda-investigation-baby-formula-shortage
Breaking down the Biden administration's response to the baby formula shortage
The infant formula shortage has affected millions of families across the country and left the Biden administration scrambling to figure out what went wrong after clear miscommunication and mishandling by the US Food and Drug Administration.
President Joe Biden conceded Wednesday he didn't understand how big of an effect the shutdown of an Abbott baby formula plant in Michigan and subsequent recalls would have on the baby formula supply until April -- but the FDA became aware of the issue in the fall of 2021, according to a CNN analysis and congressional testimony.
The White House has previously said it had been working on addressing the shortages since February.
Read the whole article: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/03/politics/baby-formula-crisis-timeline/index.html
Baby formula shortage set to last into the summer while Abbott prioritizes specialty products
The shortage of baby formula that began almost five months ago is expected to drag on into the summer, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The biggest US producer, Abbott Nutrition, is due to resume production on Saturday and start by prioritizing specialty formulas, according to the newspaper.
Abbott issued a recall of its products in February after strains of bacteria potentially deadly to infants were discovered at its factory in Sturgis, Michigan.
The first batch will include formulas for children with severe allergies or medical conditions and will be sent to doctors, hospitals, and consumers later this month, The Journal said.
Read complete article: https://www.businessinsider.com/baby-formula-shortage-expected-to-last-until-the-summer-wsj-2022-6
See how whistleblower complaint led to baby formula shortage
A whistleblower complaint filed against an Abbott Nutrition baby formula plant reveals key moments in the timeline of the nation-wide baby formula shortage. CNN's Laura Jarrett reports.Source: CNN
Listen in: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2022/06/09/abbott-baby-formula-timeline-vo-jarrett-newday-ldn-vpx.cnn/video/playlists/new-day-highlights/