{"id":1364,"date":"2022-05-25T14:32:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T18:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/?p=1364"},"modified":"2022-11-09T14:08:13","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T19:08:13","slug":"feeding-baby-during-the-formula-shortage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uvm.edu\/cap\/feeding-baby-during-the-formula-shortage\/","title":{"rendered":"Feeding Baby During the Formula Shortage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Crystal Baldwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are only two kinds of food a newborn baby can eat: breastmilk and simulated breastmilk, otherwise known as baby formula. Formula has since the eighteen hundreds been a helpful nutritional supplement\u2014establishing itself as a necessity to grow our infants, helping to overcome milk\/food allergies or the obstacles that present in breastfeeding, and providing an alternative for families.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Baby
Baby drinking formula.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

At six weeks, my baby developed a milk protein allergy. Still too young to eat solids, my family began investing in the protein dense, nutrient rich smoothie that is formula to make sure she was fed.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, sometimes when I went to the store the preferred brand of her soy-based formula was out of stock. Determined, I sought alternatives to purchasing in-store, so that my baby could have the food she liked. I could buy in bulk from wholesale stores, or direct from the manufacturer online. I opted to have the containers of formula delivered to my doorstep. Upon each delivery arrival, I felt a pang of extreme gratitude in knowing that my baby would eat. I wish I could extend this feeling to every parent navigating the baby formula shortage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration<\/a> has highlighted the concern of the baby formula shortage with a plan to alleviate the struggle, which was predominately initiated by a voluntary recall at the largest U.S. formula manufacturer, Abbott Nutrition, three months ago.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The federal government<\/strong> has been:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Working with other infant formula manufacturers to increase production<\/strong>, expediting the safe import of infant formula from abroad. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    1. Calling on both online and store retailers to establish purchasing limits<\/strong> to prevent the possibility of hoarding.  <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      1. Simplifying product offerings<\/strong> to increase the speed and scale of production, to stabilize the overall volume of formula available on the market. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
        1. The USDA is urging states to allow WIC recipients to use their WIC benefits on a wider variety of products <\/strong>so that if certain sizes or types of formula are out of stock, they can use their benefits on those that are in stock.<\/a> <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          The<\/strong> federal government is now:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          1. Invoking the Defense Protection Act, diverting needed ingredients to infant formula manufacturers <\/strong>before sending the supplies to other consumer goods. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
            1. Launching Operation Fly Formula, utilizing Department of Defense commercial aircraft to transport overseas U.S. approved infant formula to deliver it to the store shelves faster<\/strong>. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
              1. The FDA is working with the largest U.S. formula producer to reopen Abbott<\/strong>\u2019s Sturgis, Michigan facility.  <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

                \u201cOn a personal note: I have firsthand experience with the formula shortage. Luckily, we\u2019ve always been able to find alternative sources, but it\u2019s been difficult (and scary at times).\u201d<\/em><\/p>A Vermont Infant Parent<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

                Vermont parents are resilient and savvy\u2013they have been finding solutions to this problem for months. The parents that have been navigating this well know best, but perhaps I can help simplify some of the information that has been circulating. The following, in addition to the VT Department of Health\u2019s help page<\/a> released last week, might provide some level of clarity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

                Caregiver Formula Shortage Do\u2019s and Don\u2019ts<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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                Do<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n