(Reuters) – Abbott Laboratories After reports that four children had contracted serious infections, Similac was the largest U.S. supplier.

This recall has worsened the shortage of infant formula among several manufacturers, which began as a result of supply chain problems that were caused by pandemic pandemic.

These are the details of what happened.

WHERE DID THE PLANT COMMENCE?

Production at an Abbott plant in Sturgis, Michigan, has been halted since February as the company works to rectify issues raised https://www.fda.gov/media/157073/download by federal inspectors.

WHY WAS ABBOTT ABLE TO INITIALIZE A PLANT SHUTDOWN AND RECALL?

Four infants were reported by consumers as sick. Three of them had Cronobacter infection sakazakii and one had Salmonella newport. They also received formula made in the Sturgis facility. The U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention later included a fourth infant suffering from cronobacter sakazakii.

Cronobacter sakazakii can cause life threatening sepsis infections or meningitis and may have contributed to the death of two of the infants, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has said https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/fda-investigation-cronobacter-infections-powdered-infant-formula-february-2022. They continue to examine the cases of Cronobacter.

What was CALLED?

Mid-February saw the recall of dozens Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered formulations. The recall also included Similac PM 60/40, a specialty liquid formula.

DID THE FDA / CDC FIND A LINK

Abbott says https://www.abbott.com/corpnewsroom/nutrition-health-and-wellness/abbott-update-on-powder-formula-recall.html there is no evidence to link its formulas to these illnesses. The FDA and CDC did not disclose any data linking the illness to the plant.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Abbott tested environmental and product samples at the plant. Abbott said five samples from the environment contained Cronobacter. All of the product samples were negative.

Two of the babies were examined by the CDC and the results showed that there was no genetic match between their clinical samples and the strains at the plant. The bacteria in patient samples was not found to be closely related.

WHAT TIME WILL THE ABBOTT PLANT RESUME PRODUCTION

Two experts Reuters interviewed expect that the plant will resume production in two weeks. Peter Pitts (ex-FDA head, President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest), said the issue was not mechanical, and Abbott and the FDA had been working for the restart for many months.

Abbott said that it could open in two weeks once it receives the FDA’s go-ahead. Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner, told NBC News Monday that it is “quite probable” that the FDA will soon reopen this facility.

In order to meet the U.S. shortfall, Abbott has imported many millions of cans full of infant formulas out of its Ireland plant. This recall also affected formula that was shipped to Israel and other countries.

WHAT MONTH WILL IT TAKE TO SHORTAGE THE SUBSIDE?

The supply shortages could last for another 2 to 4 months, even though lawmakers and the White House are trying to improve supplies. Abbott stated that it would take between six and eight weeks for formula to be available on shelves once the facility is reopened.

Bill Marler from the U.S. Food Safety Lawyer said there would be an inventory shortage for between 30-60 days even if products return to the marketplace within two weeks. It’ll be hard.”

WHAT CAUSED THE SHORTAGE

As a result of COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020, the shortage began. The formula makers increased production, but cut back on demand in 2021. The global shipping gridlock has also hindered retailers’ ability to stockpile shelves quickly.