Production Resumes at Baby Formula Plant Linked to National Shortage
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Production of baby formula has restarted at Abbott Laboratories' manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, after meeting initial government sanitary requirements.
The plant has been closed since February after complaints of illnesses in infants who consumed several brands of powdered formula manufactured there, two of whom later died. Abbott has denied that the plant was responsible for the illnesses, saying the bacteria found in the plant did not match the samples from the ill infants. The plant's closure has been linked by reports across the political spectrum to a subsequent nationwide shortage of baby formula.
Abbott will first produce EleCare and other metabolic and specialty formulas that will be available to consumers as early as June 20. Production of Similac and other formulas will restart as soon as possible, according to Abbott.
Coupled with global supply chain issues, the plant's closure led to acute shortages, and also to scrutiny of why the FDA took more than three months to clear Abbott to resume production. Parents have been left seeking supplies from friends, doctors, food banks, and social media. Last month, President Joe Biden ordered the Defense Department to fly in shipments of baby formula from overseas, and invoked the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production.
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From the Left
Abbott Nutrition resumes production of baby formula at Michigan facility following contaminationAbbott 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...
From the Center
Abbott: US baby formula plant linked to national shortage resumes productionUS firm Abbott says it is restarting production at a baby formula plant after its shutdown contributed to a national shortage of the baby food.
The plant in Michigan - one of America's largest - was closed in February because of contamination.
Coupled with global supply chain issues, the factory's closure led to acute shortages.
Parents were left scrambling for supplies, seeking formula from food banks, friends and doctor's offices.
Some turned to social media to try to track down baby milk, while others attempted to make their own substitutes...
From the Right
Abbott's Michigan baby formula plant reopens: How long before parents see more supply?Baby formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories restarted production Saturday at its Sturgis, Michigan plant that has been closed since February.
Abbott said it will first produce EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas which will be available to consumers as early as June 20. The company added that it will restart production of Similac and other formulas as soon as it can.
The company reached an agreement with the Food and Drug Administration after a voluntary recall that has contributed to a baby formula shortage nationwide.
'We understand the urgent need for formula...
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