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U.S. eyes baby formula imports amid nationwide shortage -Breaking

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© Reuters. FILEPHOTO: CVS San Antonio (Texas), U.S. May 10, 20,22. REUTERS/Kaylee Brownlee Beal/File Photograph

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) –U.S. Health regulators will take action against baby formula imports from Monday in an effort to alleviate a national shortage that left many parents struggling to feed their children.

Robert Califf, FDA Commissioner, did not give details. President Joe Biden stated last week that he is working to permit more imports.

Califf stated to NBC News that he doesn’t expect the supply of critical baby products to be short-term. He also said on CNN that he expected the situation to improve gradually.

Separately the White House said that it was still in discussions with major formula producers to find logistical obstacles and provide transportation support.

Low stock levels or empty shelves are partly due to the February recall of certain formulas by one nation’s largest manufacturers. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE) After a Michigan factory was closed due to bacterial issues, These shortages were exacerbated by historical inflation and supply-chain problems, which means that approximately 40% of all baby formula products have been out of stock nationally, according to data.

According to FDA’s Califf, it was possible that Abbott’s Sturgis manufacturing plant in Michigan could be reopened within two weeks. An announcement about the move forward should also come soon. Califf stated this to NBC’s Today.

He stated that it was up the company’s responsibility to follow its timetable and that FDA had an obligation to fix any problems at the facility before they approved its reopening.

Abbot stated that its products were safe, and it had committed to fixing any quality problems at its factory. He also said that the bacteria at the plant was not directly linked to any illness. After receiving complaints from infants about the possibility of bacterial infection, the FDA started an investigation into the facility.

The company released a statement Monday saying that it had been working with FDA to resolve the FDA’s concerns so they can resume operations.

Califf stated that efforts are being made to import baby formula from countries other than the FDA’s approved safe-for-import list.

Reps from the health agency didn’t respond to my request for additional information about the plan.

White House officials said that the government offered transport and logistic support for Abbott. Reckitt Benckiser Group Plc (LON :), Nestle SA (6SIX 🙂 Perrigo Co (NYSE: Plc) Plc and top retailers like Target Corp (NYSE -), Amazon.com Inc.(NASDAQ:) & Walmart (NYSE –) Inc.

The Department of Transportation representatives could not immediately be reached for comment.

Congress plans to discuss this week the rules governing infant formula, which are part of the Women, Infants and Children Program, a federal aid nutrition program run by U.S. state governments, and emergency funding to support supplies.

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