PA Baby Formula Maker Gets Another $8.25M From State

HARRISBURG, PA — The state of Pennsylvania on Thursday announced its plans to invest another $8.25 million in a baby formula plant near Reading that hopes to ease an ongoing nationwide shortage.

The investment in ByHeart, the first new federally-approved U.S. formula maker in 15 years, is in addition to the $1.75 million in state funding that helped ByHeart complete the $21.6 million facility in Exeter Township.

According to a statement from Gov. Tom Wolf's office, the investment will support additional production and hiring "that will ultimately feed up to 500,000 more babies" in the next two years.

"I promised to do everything I can to support Pennsylvania families," Wolf said in a statement. "What ByHeart is doing is amazing and innovative, I’m proud to invest in them and that they chose Pennsylvania as home."

RELATED: New Baby Formula Plant In PA To Help Ease U.S. Shortage

The nationwide shortage started in February when Abbott Nutrition shut down the largest formula factory in the country after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant. Two of the babies died.

At times, the supply problems forced some parents to seek formula from food banks, friends and doctor's offices.

Though Abbott restarted production at the facility last week, the federal government was forced to import foreign supplies and use the Defense Production Act to speed domestic production of infant formula. Those steps began in mid-May, once retailers began rationing supplies and store shelves were emptying.

U.S. manufacturers, including Reckitt and Gerber, have also stepped up production, running plants 24/7 and sourcing more formula from alternate facilities.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.