MUScoop

MUScoop => The Superbar => Topic started by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 09:33:56 AM

Title: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 09:33:56 AM
What are the real facts on this one?  I've read a few articles with wide ranges of opinion.   I know Abbot isn't thrilled with a few narratives being bandied about.  You would think this crisis in solvable and there should be some sense of urgency?  I have some personal anecdotes from my cousin in Austin but perhaps some of you have  stories and solutions?  How this has happened is pretty dumbfoubding even with supply chain issues or what have you.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: tower912 on May 15, 2022, 09:44:51 AM
Big factory in Michigan got shut down.   It will be reopening shortly.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Pakuni on May 15, 2022, 09:49:50 AM
It's a bit of a perfect storm, but it essentially comes down to the U.S. baby formula market being cornered by three American companies and one of them shutting down production because of a recall.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 15, 2022, 10:39:13 AM
It's a bit of a perfect storm, but it essentially comes down to the U.S. baby formula market being cornered by three American companies and one of them shutting down production because of a recall.

This. It doesn't seem to be any kind of sinister plot. Hopefully it will be remedied soon.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Plaque Lives Matter! on May 15, 2022, 11:12:13 AM
I work for an ex Abbott company and have experienced the same occurrence of what happened. You slow walk replacement of capital machinery in order to hit a certain capital cash flow number and then old machines past their reasonable useful life break down and cause bigger problems than just replacing them when it was time to. FDA needs to get off their ass on matters like this too.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: jficke13 on May 15, 2022, 11:37:29 AM
Not to make it political, but it recently got mainstreamed by one of the political prime time hosts, which has caused an a cute run on shelf supplies of the products not affected by the shutdown.

Nada on the shelves in Waukesha the last few days in several stores we’ve checked.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on May 15, 2022, 12:23:36 PM
Our daughter was born two months before COVID. There were times we couldn't get formula in the store because there was a rush on it by doomsday preppers when COVID started.  I doubt that's a major factor this time but I wonder if there are some with stockpiles who don't need it.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: jesmu84 on May 15, 2022, 12:45:20 PM
It's a bit of a perfect storm, but it essentially comes down to the U.S. baby formula market being cornered by three American companies and one of them shutting down production because of a recall.

Nailed it.

Another sector with "monopoly lite" dynamics.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Billy Hoyle on May 15, 2022, 01:03:52 PM
Bette Midler said it isn’t an issue, women just need to breast feed and stop complaining. Problem solved.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 01:15:28 PM
Bette Midler said it isn’t an issue, women just need to breast feed and stop complaining. Problem solved.

Good one.

It is a little weird we only have three baby food companies.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on May 15, 2022, 01:23:25 PM
Bette Midler said it isn’t an issue, women just need to breast feed and stop complaining. Problem solved.

My mother in law said the same thing this morning.  My wife showed amazing restraint while addressing that comment
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 01:30:03 PM
Our daughter was born two months before COVID. There were times we couldn't get formula in the store because there was a rush on it by doomsday preppers when COVID started.  I doubt that's a major factor this time but I wonder if there are some with stockpiles who don't need it.

There's some stockpiling for sure.  I assume your daughter is now having an assortment of cuisines/meals and has stepped up her eating game. 
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on May 15, 2022, 01:50:07 PM
There's some stockpiling for sure.  I assume your daughter is now having an assortment of cuisines/meals and has stepped up her eating game.

For sure.  Crazy child will eat anything.  She even loves spicy food
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: tower912 on May 15, 2022, 01:54:35 PM
Bette said something outrageous and got pilloried for it.   Stop looking for reasons to snowflake.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 02:11:54 PM
For sure.  Crazy child will eat anything.  She even loves spicy food

Smart kid.  Sounds like you and Mrs. TAMU Eagle need to get your cooking skills closer to her sophistication level.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Herman Cain on May 15, 2022, 02:45:11 PM
It's a bit of a perfect storm, but it essentially comes down to the U.S. baby formula market being cornered by three American companies and one of them shutting down production because of a recall.
In addition, there is specialized processes and equipment , as the baby formula has to meet a very high regulatory bar. So alternative production can not come on line quickly .
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: NCMUFan on May 15, 2022, 04:09:26 PM
Appears to be real.  Wife works in WIC.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 15, 2022, 04:42:19 PM
It's real and it's been real. Finding formula has been tough for the last 4-5 months, but it really became impossible about 6 weeks ago. Target, Walmart, Pick N Save, Woodman's, Piggly Wiggly, they're all wiped.

I was lucky to find 2 canisters of our regular formula a month ago. I also got a canister of "Gentlease" which has iron added, which has led to our son being constipated the last month. I've cut down the mix to try to minimize the constipation, but there's no formula to be found.

On the plus side, he's 6 weeks away from being able to drink milk instead of formula. I'm hoping we have enough to make it that long. It'll be close. Really glad he's 10 months and not 2. I don't know what we'd do.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: pbiflyer on May 15, 2022, 04:54:05 PM
It's a bit of a perfect storm, but it essentially comes down to the U.S. baby formula market being cornered by three American companies and one of them shutting down production because of a recall.

Yah unfettered capitalism! (Right?)
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MUeng on May 15, 2022, 06:25:10 PM
Costco here in Denver has infant formula. I only picked up two canisters, no need to hoard but makes me a lil nervous. Pediatricians also have some if things get real bad. Byheart is the only startup I know of stateside. Crazy how dominated the industry is. No new entrants in some 15 years? Wow.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on May 15, 2022, 06:57:40 PM
Smart kid.  Sounds like you and Mrs. TAMU Eagle need to get your cooking skills closer to her sophistication level.

Oh,  I married very well.  This child wants for nothing in the cuisine department
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Sir Lawrence on May 15, 2022, 09:47:26 PM
Part of the issue is tariffs.  Inability to price compete with domestic producers squeezed Canadian formula producers in the USA market.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 15, 2022, 10:03:58 PM
Oh,  I married very well.  This child wants for nothing in the cuisine department

"This child" will need a myriad of prime-time dishes and cuisines moving forward.  It's all fun and games now but don't be surprised with some of her requests by the time she hits kindergarten. 
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on May 16, 2022, 08:09:05 AM
I read several Canadian and European baby food makers are excluded from the USA market simply because of labeling and nothing else.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: pbiflyer on May 16, 2022, 08:13:33 AM
I read several Canadian and European baby food makers are excluded from the USA market simply because of labeling and nothing else.

Tariffs play a far greater role. Even the WSJ agrees.
https://www.wsj.com/amp/articles/who-made-the-baby-formula-shortage-biden-administration-abbott-tariffs-nestle-11652480538
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: jficke13 on May 16, 2022, 08:59:35 AM
Oh,  I married very well.  This child wants for nothing in the cuisine department

Careful, my daughter is a fiend for homemade pesto. Pine nuts aint cheap. She also has a discerning olive oil pallet. She's not even 3.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: reinko on May 16, 2022, 09:15:07 AM
Careful, my daughter is a fiend for homemade pesto. Pine nuts aint cheap. She also has a discerning olive oil pallet. She's not even 3.

Just use walnuts lol
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: real chili 83 on May 16, 2022, 09:21:25 AM
Oh,  I married very well.  This child wants for nothing in the cuisine department

I hear she is on a first name basis with Mr. Fargo.  She has fine tastes.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 16, 2022, 12:01:04 PM
A medical outfit called StarMed just announced that it will be giving away baby formula to those needing. So if any of y'all have relatives or friends in the Charlotte area who are affected, here's some info:

https://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article261482442.html?ac_cid=DM646652&ac_bid=-118876825
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: warriorchick on May 16, 2022, 01:24:57 PM
For sure.  Crazy child will eat anything.  She even loves spicy food

Taken her to Real Chili yet?
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: pbiflyer on May 16, 2022, 02:13:37 PM
Taken her to Real Chili yet?

Pretty sure that's child abuse!  ;D
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 16, 2022, 02:31:14 PM
Taken her to Real Chili yet?

That would probably fix the constipation my son has been suffering with the formula shortage complications.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: tower912 on May 16, 2022, 03:42:20 PM
Apparently ivermectin will, too.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: warriorchick on May 16, 2022, 06:19:51 PM
Pretty sure that's child abuse!  ;D

My kids have eaten Real Chili since they were toddlers.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 17, 2022, 08:56:08 AM
FDA reaches agreement with Abbott Labs to reopen the shuttered plant.

Production could resume in about 2 weeks, and shelves could be stocked a few weeks later.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/health/baby-formula-shortage-fda.html?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20220516&instance_id=0&nl=breaking-news&ref=headline&regi_id=108420427&segment_id=92416&user_id=d36dcf821462fdd16ec3636710a855fa
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Hards Alumni on May 17, 2022, 10:47:18 AM
This. It doesn't seem to be any kind of sinister plot. Hopefully it will be remedied soon.

Not sinister, but this is the problem we've accepted, as a society, when we allow one or two companies to corner the market.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: mu_hilltopper on May 18, 2022, 07:47:52 PM
I found this stat interesting .. 50-65% of infant formula is purchased by families in the WIC program.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 18, 2022, 09:14:54 PM
Biden invokes Defense Production Act to increase infant formula supply

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-invokes-defense-production-act-increase-infant-formula-supply-2022-05-18/

WASHINGTON, May 18 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden took steps on Wednesday to address the shortage of infant formula in the United States, invoking the Defense Production Act to help manufacturers obtain the ingredients needed to ramp up supply, the White House said.

Biden also directed U.S. agencies to use Defense Department commercial aircraft to bring formula into the United States from overseas.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MUBurrow on May 18, 2022, 09:45:53 PM
I found this stat interesting .. 50-65% of infant formula is purchased by families in the WIC program.

Oof, that's depressing as hell.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 18, 2022, 10:30:21 PM
(https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/282651040_411487591082821_3448783223231166437_n.jpg?_nc_cat=1&ccb=1-6&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=UlZsZDbR2ZUAX9fBtGr&tn=4xfSAd9QWGTTK1DE&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AT8m3VRI-by0v6OPQM2Ktd-kFBI03x6IwRTUvef45P2LEA&oe=6289E6E2)
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Bad_Reporter on May 19, 2022, 12:04:45 AM
.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on May 19, 2022, 05:11:51 AM
Zero, zilch, nodda, anywhere within a 60 mile radius.  I’ve looked everywhere.  I think I found a partial solution, if you go on Canadian Amazon you can still get formula, however once I input my American address, no dice.  Any ideas?  Greatly appreciated

Go on vacation to Canada and stock up.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 19, 2022, 05:25:01 AM
Zero, zilch, nodda, anywhere within a 60 mile radius.  I’ve looked everywhere.  I think I found a partial solution, if you go on Canadian Amazon you can still get formula, however once I input my American address, no dice.  Any ideas?  Greatly appreciated

Talk to your pediatrician. They might have extra formula or ideas. Otherwise, age depends a ton. If you're past 6 months, they can eat adult food. Just stick with things they can gum down or use the baby food pouches/jars. You can also make your own. Then limit bottles to 1-2 per day as you're able.

Depending on the child, you may be able to move to those solids or whole milk earlier than 6 months/12 months, but I would definitely talk to your pediatrician. I don't envy anyone with 1-3 month olds currently.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Bad_Reporter on May 19, 2022, 08:01:10 AM
Talk to your pediatrician. They might have extra formula or ideas. Otherwise, age depends a ton. If you're past 6 months, they can eat adult food. Just stick with things they can gum down or use the baby food pouches/jars. You can also make your own. Then limit bottles to 1-2 per day as you're able.

Depending on the child, you may be able to move to those solids or whole milk earlier than 6 months/12 months, but I would definitely talk to your pediatrician. I don't envy anyone with 1-3 month olds currently.

Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 19, 2022, 08:17:06 AM
Due date is this Sunday, so yeah..

Is breast feeding or pumping an option? If so, worth seeing if the hospital has a lactation consultant you can talk to. My wife breast fed our first until 8 months, but only had success for 2 months with our second. Most insurance plans do cover a pump, so probably worth finding out what your plan covers.

Typically the hospital can send you home with some bottles or premixed formula, but we only got enough from them for about 10-14 days (and that was pre-shortage). If you have a pediatrician picked out, maybe try reaching out ahead of time to see if they can help.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 20, 2022, 04:53:56 PM
House GOP leaders were among the 192 Republicans who voted against providing $28 million in aid to the Food and Drug Administration to address the shortage of baby formula — within days of criticizing President Biden for not doing enough on the issue.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) voted late Wednesday against the measure to provide new FDA funding, which the House approved on a largely party-line vote of 231 to 192. Twelve Republicans broke ranks and joined with Democrats in backing the money.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: JWags85 on May 20, 2022, 05:05:13 PM
House GOP leaders were among the 192 Republicans who voted against providing $28 million in aid to the Food and Drug Administration to address the shortage of baby formula — within days of criticizing President Biden for not doing enough on the issue.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) voted late Wednesday against the measure to provide new FDA funding, which the House approved on a largely party-line vote of 231 to 192. Twelve Republicans broke ranks and joined with Democrats in backing the money.

I think the headlines are a bit misleading.  It does nothing to address the situation in the immediate.  Its basically a blank check to the FDA to make sure this doesn't happen in the future. 

I'm not saying I'm opposed to the bill, cause clearly this is a tremendous failure that needs to be mitigated in the future.  But people are making it seem like it was a bill to provide funds to buy emergency formula or something.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 20, 2022, 05:37:59 PM
I think the headlines are a bit misleading.  It does nothing to address the situation in the immediate.  Its basically a blank check to the FDA to make sure this doesn't happen in the future. 

I'm not saying I'm opposed to the bill, cause clearly this is a tremendous failure that needs to be mitigated in the future.  But people are making it seem like it was a bill to provide funds to buy emergency formula or something.

Was an alternative solution to the problem offered?
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Jockey on May 20, 2022, 06:51:58 PM

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.), Whip Steve Scalise (La.) and Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) voted late Wednesday against the measure to provide new FDA funding, which the House approved on a largely party-line vote of 231 to 192. Twelve Republicans broke ranks and joined with Democrats in backing the money.

We all know why Dems wanna fatten up the babies.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Uncle Rico on May 20, 2022, 07:15:45 PM
We all know why Dems wanna fatten up the babies.

Babies are delicious and an incredible source of food to give to illegals replacing white men
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: tower912 on May 20, 2022, 07:50:15 PM
I thought they were a source of energy.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Uncle Rico on May 20, 2022, 07:54:43 PM
I thought they were a source of energy.

Babies have all kinds of illicit uses.  Some people want Roe to stay on the books, but secretly, liberals want more for all kinds of nefarious reasons.  You get better value buying them by the dozen
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: ATL MU Warrior on May 20, 2022, 08:18:37 PM
Babies are delicious and an incredible source of food to give to illegals replacing white men
I think this is my favorite post of all time.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Jockey on May 20, 2022, 09:44:02 PM
I think this is my favorite post of all time.

So, I’m reduced to being Rico’s straight man now?  :-\
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TSmith34, Inc. on May 20, 2022, 10:59:56 PM
I thought they were a source of energy.
Not the babies. They only burn the fetuses. Once they are born, the blood is way too delicious to burn them for electricity.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 21, 2022, 07:38:15 AM
You're not Jonathan Swift Uncle R.  You're pretty clever though.

On a serious note this thread (that I started) was supposed to be about the baby formula shortage which is an issue we can all agree is a huge problem and should have nothing to do with politics.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Uncle Rico on May 21, 2022, 07:38:55 AM
You're not Jonathan Swift Uncle R.  You're pretty clever though.

On a serious note this thread (that I started) was supposed to be about the baby formula shortage which is an issue we can all agree is a huge problem and should have nothing to do with politics.

It was just a modest proposal. 
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 21, 2022, 07:51:17 AM
It was just a modest proposal.

I would highly recommend the Drapier's Letters and a Tale of a Tub along with Swift's non-satirical collection of sermons.  The man had prime-time talent with the pen

Maybe you need to footnote your takes Uncle R?.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Uncle Rico on May 21, 2022, 07:58:46 AM
I would highly recommend the Drapier's Letters and a Tale of a Tub along with Swift's non-satirical collection of sermons.  The man had prime-time talent with the pen

Maybe you need to footnote your takes Uncle R?.

Swift is one of my faves. 
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MuggsyB on May 21, 2022, 08:05:31 AM
Swift is one of my faves.

He's also a much more important historical figure for Ireland than he is given credit. 
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 21, 2022, 02:50:16 PM
On a serious note this thread (that I started) was supposed to be about the baby formula shortage which is an issue we can all agree is a huge problem and should have nothing to do with politics.

A solution was proposed. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.  Many, all from one “side,” rejected it immediately without offering a solution themselves. We all agree it’s a huge problem, Muggs, but you and I don’t have the power to do a damn thing about it.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Lennys Tap on May 21, 2022, 03:46:59 PM
Swift is one of my faves.

9 out of 10?
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: JWags85 on May 21, 2022, 04:50:48 PM
A solution was proposed. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.  Many, all from one “side,” rejected it immediately without offering a solution themselves. We all agree it’s a huge problem, Muggs, but you and I don’t have the power to do a damn thing about it.

You’ve never had a problem where you say “I’m not sure how to fix it, but this isn’t it”?  Doing something just to do something isn’t always prudent.  You don’t have to automatically have a corresponding fix in order to veto spending.  There is of course tons of partisan hackery involved, but this would be far from the first time a crisis was used to fund something tangentially related.

We have a terrible condensation problem in our apartment bathroom we’ve been trying to solve.  Ive been struggling to find a solution.  My wife found a fairly costly remedy that basically prevents future build ups of water in places that can then lead to condensation…which would be helpful if we were starting from scratch but it really doesn’t help the in process condensation problem.  I had no problem vetoing her proposal despite not having a better alternative because I strongly felt it would not assist in the current “crisis”. (Shrug)
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 21, 2022, 05:27:04 PM
You’ve never had a problem where you say “I’m not sure how to fix it, but this isn’t it”?  Doing something just to do something isn’t always prudent.  You don’t have to automatically have a corresponding fix in order to veto spending.  There is of course tons of partisan hackery involved, but this would be far from the first time a crisis was used to fund something tangentially related.

We have a terrible condensation problem in our apartment bathroom we’ve been trying to solve.  Ive been struggling to find a solution.  My wife found a fairly costly remedy that basically prevents future build ups of water in places that can then lead to condensation…which would be helpful if we were starting from scratch but it really doesn’t help the in process condensation problem.  I had no problem vetoing her proposal despite not having a better alternative because I strongly felt it would not assist in the current “crisis”. (Shrug)

Do you constantly, publicly, angrily rip your wife for having no solution to the condensation problem?

Edit: Meanwhile, back to the actual problem ...

U.S. military aircraft will deliver 132 pallets of baby formula from Germany to Indianapolis over the weekend, in support of a Biden administration initiative that aims to quickly increase supplies of the food source amid a national shortage.

The flights are part of Operation Fly Formula, which was launched after President Biden authorized the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services to request Pentagon-contracted commercial planes to deliver formula from abroad. Military planes will transport the supplies this time, as no commercial aircraft were available, the White House said.

The imports will fill immediate gaps while also buying time for domestic manufacturers to ramp up production. The military’s involvement in transporting baby formula reflects the urgency of the shortage, which is particularly hitting medically vulnerable babies and some older children who may rely on formula because of life-threatening food allergies.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/05/21/baby-formula-imports-abbott-wic/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F36e5a98%2F628909f8956121755a881339%2F5f8d147cae7e8a56e5b732a4%2F10%2F70%2F628909f8956121755a881339
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Lennys Tap on May 21, 2022, 05:44:27 PM
You’ve never had a problem where you say “I’m not sure how to fix it, but this isn’t it”?  Doing something just to do something isn’t always prudent.  You don’t have to automatically have a corresponding fix in order to veto spending.  There is of course tons of partisan hackery involved, but this would be far from the first time a crisis was used to fund something tangentially related.

We have a terrible condensation problem in our apartment bathroom we’ve been trying to solve.  Ive been struggling to find a solution.  My wife found a fairly costly remedy that basically prevents future build ups of water in places that can then lead to condensation…which would be helpful if we were starting from scratch but it really doesn’t help the in process condensation problem.  I had no problem vetoing her proposal despite not having a better alternative because I strongly felt it would not assist in the current “crisis”. (Shrug)

Yep
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on May 22, 2022, 12:50:20 PM
Abbott's CEO wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post about what they're doing re formula shortage.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/05/21/abbott-ceo-robert-ford-formula-elevil/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F36e80ed%2F628a5997956121755a8a240f%2F5f8d147cae7e8a56e5b732a4%2F17%2F72%2F628a5997956121755a8a240f

Here's the main part:

First, for the families of those children hospitalized, we wish we could provide them the formula they need today and are working to identify ways to do so. We will prioritize EleCare when manufacturing resumes and get that out the door first. In the meantime, we’re establishing a $5 million fund that will be independently administered to help these families with medical and living expenses as they weather this storm.

Secondly, you can feel safe buying any Abbott product you find on the store shelves. What is available has passed rigorous inspections and is ready for your babies.

Third, we have been taking serious steps to relieve the supply crisis. We converted lines of our adult nutrition products at our Columbus, Ohio, plant to prioritize production of ready-to-feed liquid infant formula. And we have been air-shipping millions of cans of our most widely used powdered infant formula from an FDA-approved facility in Ireland to the United States since the recall.

As you may have heard, we also entered into a consent decree with the FDA related to our closed facility. This was a major step toward quickly and safely reopening. We expect we’ll be able to restart the facility by the first week in June. From the time we restart production at the site, it will take six to eight weeks before product is available on shelves. When we are operating our Michigan facility at full capacity, we will more than double our current production of powdered infant formula for the United States. By the end of June, we will be supplying more formula to Americans than we were in January before the recall.

Finally, we are making significant investments to ensure this never happens again. We plan to expand both capacity and redundancy. This will increase the nation’s formula supply and create the redundancy we need to never have to stop production of critical products such as EleCare again. And we will similarly invest in upgrading our safety and quality processes and equipment.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: JWags85 on May 22, 2022, 07:22:37 PM

U.S. military aircraft will deliver 132 pallets of baby formula from Germany to Indianapolis over the weekend, in support of a Biden administration initiative that aims to quickly increase supplies of the food source amid a national shortage.

The flights are part of Operation Fly Formula, which was launched after President Biden authorized the Agriculture Department and the Department of Health and Human Services to request Pentagon-contracted commercial planes to deliver formula from abroad. Military planes will transport the supplies this time, as no commercial aircraft were available, the White House said.

The imports will fill immediate gaps while also buying time for domestic manufacturers to ramp up production. The military’s involvement in transporting baby formula reflects the urgency of the shortage, which is particularly hitting medically vulnerable babies and some older children who may rely on formula because of life-threatening food allergies.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2022/05/21/baby-formula-imports-abbott-wic/?utm_campaign=wp_post_most&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_most&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F36e5a98%2F628909f8956121755a881339%2F5f8d147cae7e8a56e5b732a4%2F10%2F70%2F628909f8956121755a881339

Now if the $28MM was for this sort of program, game on completely.  Kudos to the admin for putting it together and swinging it
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: Hards Alumni on May 23, 2022, 06:17:49 AM
You’ve never had a problem where you say “I’m not sure how to fix it, but this isn’t it”?  Doing something just to do something isn’t always prudent.  You don’t have to automatically have a corresponding fix in order to veto spending.  There is of course tons of partisan hackery involved, but this would be far from the first time a crisis was used to fund something tangentially related.

We have a terrible condensation problem in our apartment bathroom we’ve been trying to solve.  Ive been struggling to find a solution.  My wife found a fairly costly remedy that basically prevents future build ups of water in places that can then lead to condensation…which would be helpful if we were starting from scratch but it really doesn’t help the in process condensation problem.  I had no problem vetoing her proposal despite not having a better alternative because I strongly felt it would not assist in the current “crisis”. (Shrug)

Old or new place
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on May 23, 2022, 08:04:53 AM
You’ve never had a problem where you say “I’m not sure how to fix it, but this isn’t it”?  Doing something just to do something isn’t always prudent.  You don’t have to automatically have a corresponding fix in order to veto spending.  There is of course tons of partisan hackery involved, but this would be far from the first time a crisis was used to fund something tangentially related.

We have a terrible condensation problem in our apartment bathroom we’ve been trying to solve.  Ive been struggling to find a solution.  My wife found a fairly costly remedy that basically prevents future build ups of water in places that can then lead to condensation…which would be helpful if we were starting from scratch but it really doesn’t help the in process condensation problem.  I had no problem vetoing her proposal despite not having a better alternative because I strongly felt it would not assist in the current “crisis”. (Shrug)

Ceiling vent fan?  If no, install one to vent outside and need to run a bit after finishing in the bathroom to fully vent out moisture.

Is it the toilet?  Make sure you get a toilet with the insulated tank (Styrofoam layer in the tank).  I have well water and always had a problem with toilet condensation until we put in 20 years ago and we haven't seen since.

May have a wall insulation problem or no insulation in an outside wall and the temperature/moisture differential between the bathroom and outside may cause the issue.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: JWags85 on May 23, 2022, 10:25:30 AM
Old or new place

Newer, roughly 5 years old or so.

Ceiling vent fan?  If no, install one to vent outside and need to run a bit after finishing in the bathroom to fully vent out moisture.

Is it the toilet?  Make sure you get a toilet with the insulated tank (Styrofoam layer in the tank).  I have well water and always had a problem with toilet condensation until we put in 20 years ago and we haven't seen since.

May have a wall insulation problem or no insulation in an outside wall and the temperature/moisture differential between the bathroom and outside may cause the issue.

I'm pretty sure venting is the issue.  There is a vent fan, but its pretty weak and not sure what purpose its serving as its clearly not circulating or removing air like it should.

We rent so its a dialogue with our landlord (which makes the attempted pricey fix my wife suggested even sillier  ;D) and we move out end of July anyways, so probably will just hold the line.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on May 23, 2022, 11:56:53 AM
Newer, roughly 5 years old or so.

I'm pretty sure venting is the issue.  There is a vent fan, but its pretty weak and not sure what purpose its serving as its clearly not circulating or removing air like it should.

We rent so its a dialogue with our landlord (which makes the attempted pricey fix my wife suggested even sillier  ;D) and we move out end of July anyways, so probably will just hold the line.

Sounds like the fan needs to be replaced.  May be undersized for the bathroom.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 23, 2022, 12:02:12 PM
I didn't expect this to turn into the bathroom ventilation thread.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: lawdog77 on May 23, 2022, 12:30:37 PM
I didn't expect this to turn into the bathroom ventilation thread.
cmon, babyfood does lead to needing proper bathroom  ventilation
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on May 23, 2022, 12:33:47 PM
cmon, babyfood does lead to needing proper bathroom  ventilation

Maybe in public bathrooms, but unless you're going well down the chain of life events, I doubt many babies are being changed in the toilet.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on June 07, 2022, 06:02:38 AM
We're going to run out of formula this week. Our fortune is that Simon is 3 weeks away from his first birthday and our pediatrician said we can just switch to whole milk a little bit early. I still check for formula every time I go to the store.

What's baffled me is this effectively has come from one producer shutting down production. We use Enfamil and they were never part of the recall, yet despite my 4-5 trips per week to grocery stores or Target, I haven't seen a container of anything in months. You'd think even with one producer shutting down, you'd occasionally luck into a shipment from one of the others.

Maybe there are parenting Facebook groups that are telling all their members when shipments come so there's a rush every time that a few cases come in, but it's amazing how thoroughly Similac hamstrung the industry.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on June 07, 2022, 07:36:31 AM
When there is a shortage of anything, people who get access to product will tend to buy extra - so that makes the problem worse.  (I wouldn't say "hoarding" because that implies something negative to a pretty normal action.)
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on June 07, 2022, 08:00:06 AM
Like when the pandemic started everyone started hoarding toilet paper and Lysol wipes.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU82 on June 07, 2022, 08:01:42 AM
We're going to run out of formula this week. Our fortune is that Simon is 3 weeks away from his first birthday and our pediatrician said we can just switch to whole milk a little bit early. I still check for formula every time I go to the store.

What's baffled me is this effectively has come from one producer shutting down production. We use Enfamil and they were never part of the recall, yet despite my 4-5 trips per week to grocery stores or Target, I haven't seen a container of anything in months. You'd think even with one producer shutting down, you'd occasionally luck into a shipment from one of the others.

Maybe there are parenting Facebook groups that are telling all their members when shipments come so there's a rush every time that a few cases come in, but it's amazing how thoroughly Similac hamstrung the industry.

It's both weird and disappointing, brew. Thankfully, Simon is old enough that it shouldn't affect him. Be well.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: brewcity77 on June 07, 2022, 09:25:44 AM
Like when the pandemic started everyone started hoarding toilet paper and Lysol wipes.

They did, and it's a good comparison, but the pandemic was an overnight thing. I remember buying toilet paper on a Wednesday morning from full shelves and coming back Thursday afternoon and it was wiped out. Anyone that buys formula has seen the shelves depleting since February. Between the shipments from overseas and the knowledge of reduced production at Similac, it's hard to see how nothing has righted the ship at all.

And maybe I just have bad timing, but if Enfamil (our normal brand) or generics are still shipping, you'd think I'd have lucked into seeing them once among the dozens of trips I make, or that those companies would have seen the profit motive to increase their own production. Especially with it being in the news pretty consistently for the past 6-8 weeks, I expected we would see things start to turn once attention was finally there. I remember joking when it first popped up on news channels in late April "where have they been the last two months, this isn't new news?" but here we sit.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: TAMU, Knower of Ball on June 07, 2022, 09:36:28 AM
Maybe there are parenting Facebook groups that are telling all their members when shipments come so there's a rush every time that a few cases come in, but it's amazing how thoroughly Similac hamstrung the industry.

I guarantee you that there are people who get advanced notice of when shipments are coming in and let their friends and family members know. My guess is that if you aren't there for the shipment being stocked, you will never luck into one until this is fixed.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: The Sultan of Semantics on June 07, 2022, 10:04:08 AM
I guarantee you that there are people who get advanced notice of when shipments are coming in and let their friends and family members know. My guess is that if you aren't there for the shipment being stocked, you will never luck into one until this is fixed.


My brother in law works at a "big box retailer," and every time a shipment of wipes came in during the beginning of the pandemic, employees bought out 2/3 of the stock.  Everytime we saw him we got another tube.  I think we just finished off the last one he gave us a month ago.
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: MU Fan in Connecticut on June 07, 2022, 10:07:16 AM

My brother in law works at a "big box retailer," and every time a shipment of wipes came in during the beginning of the pandemic, employees bought out 2/3 of the stock.  Everytime we saw him we got another tube.  I think we just finished off the last one he gave us a month ago.

My wife went overboard and we still have a 5-6 year supply ...
Title: Re: Baby Food Shortage
Post by: warriorchick on June 09, 2022, 10:41:49 AM
For anyone who might need it, I am in the Menomonee Falls Costco right now and they have the cases of pre-made Similac bottles. Limit 2 per membership.