Baby Food Shortage

[MuggsyB]

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.

[tower912]

Big factory in Michigan got shut down.   It will be reopening shortly.

[Pakuni]

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.

[MU82]

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.

[Shaka Shart]

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.

[jficke13]

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.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

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.

[jesmu84]

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.

[Billy Hoyle]

Bette Midler said it isn't an issue, women just need to breast feed and stop complaining. Problem solved.

[MuggsyB]

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.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

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

[MuggsyB]

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. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

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

[tower912]

Bette said something outrageous and got pilloried for it.   Stop looking for reasons to snowflake.

[MuggsyB]

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.

[Herman Cain]

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 .

[NCMUFan]

Appears to be real.  Wife works in WIC.

[brewcity77]

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.

[pbiflyer]

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?)

[MUeng]

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.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

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

[Sir Lawrence]

Part of the issue is tariffs.  Inability to price compete with domestic producers squeezed Canadian formula producers in the USA market.

[MuggsyB]

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. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I read several Canadian and European baby food makers are excluded from the USA market simply because of labeling and nothing else.

[pbiflyer]

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