Abbott Nutrition resumes production of baby formula at Michigan facility following contamination

Abbott Nutrition has restarted production at a Michigan baby formula factory that was previously shut down due to contamination, contributing to a nationwide shortage of formula. 

"We will ramp production as quickly as we can while meeting all requirements," Abbott said in a statement. "We're committed to safety and quality and will do everything we can to re-earn the trust parents, caregivers and health care providers have placed in us for 130 years."

Abbott, the largest infant formula manufacturer in the US, said it will take approximately three weeks for products to hit store shelves.

The Abbott Nutrition plant in Sturgis shut down in February following complaints of illness in infants who consumed formula products manufactured there, two of whom later died. The illnesses were linked to the environmental bacteria, cronobacter sakazakii.

On Saturday, Abbott said it will start by prioritizing the production of its EleCare specialty formulas used for infants with allergies and digestive issues, Insider's Sam Tabahriti reported. The company added that it is "working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can."