Township Of Millburn: Helping Families Find Formula During The Infant Formula Shortage

Press release from the Township of Millburn:

May 20, 2022

To address infant formula shortages in the wake of Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall of certain powdered infant formulas, the Biden-Harris Administration is working to ensure that infant formula is safe and available for families across the country. Yesterday, President Biden spoke with retailers and manufacturers, including Walmart, Target, Reckitt, and Gerber, to discuss ways to get more formula quickly and safely onto store shelves. He also announced a series of actions, including cutting red tape on the types of formula parents can buy, calling on the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general to crack down on price gouging and unfair market practices, and increasing the supply of formula through increased imports.

Thanks to these efforts, manufacturers have ramped up production 30-50 percent, bringing total production today above pre-recall levels with a different mix of products and sizes now available in the market. Still, it’s clear that too many families continue to encounter challenges obtaining infant formula—especially families of about 5,000 infants as well as some older children and adults with rare metabolic diseases that depend on specialty formulas.

If you are unable to readily find formula, please consult the following resources that may be able to assist:

• Gerber’s MyGerber Baby Expert - reach a certified nutrition or lactation consultant by phone, text, Facebook Messenger, web chat, or video call, who can help you identify a similar formula that may be more readily available
• Abbott’s Consumer Hotline: call 1-800-986-8540
  • Abbott’s urgent product request line - ask your OBGYN or your infant’s pediatrician to submit an urgent product request by downloading and completing the form.
• Healthcare Workers: Contact Abbott to request limited quantities of formula for patients in need.
• Reckitt’s Customer Service line: call 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123)

• United Way’s 2-1-1 - dial 2–1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist affiliated with United Way who may be able to help you identify food pantries and other charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food.
• Feeding America - call your local food bank to ask whether they have infant formula and other supplies in stock.
• Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): certain HMBANA-accredited milk banks are distributing donated breast milk to mothers in need; please note that some may require a prescription from a medical professional.

• Contact your local WIC office to identify or obtain additional sources of infant formula nearby.
• Updated WIC Information

• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS

This press release was produced by the Township of Millburn. The views expressed here are the author’s own.