A baby formula plant closed in February at the heart of the current U.S. shortage of the product could reopen as soon as next week, U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf told House lawmakers on Thursday.
The Abbott Nutrition’s Michigan formula plant is the largest in the nation, and it was closed due to contamination issues.
Earlier this week, the FDA announced a preliminary deal with Abbott to restart production if safety upgrades and certifications are met.
However, even after production resumes, it could take about two months before new formula from the plant starts appearing on store shelves, Abbott has said.
“We had to wrestle this to ground with Abbott,” Califf told members of the House Appropriations subcommittee, the Associated Press reported. “I think we are on track to get it open within the next week to two weeks.”
Califf is the first Biden administration official to testify before Congress on the shortage, which has left some parents desperate to find formula and become a huge political issue.
On Wednesday evening, President Biden announced sweeping measures to boost formula supplies in the United States, including invoking the Defense Production Act and importing formula by air from overseas.
“I know parents all across the country are worried about finding enough infant formula to feed their babies — as a parent and as a grandparent, I know just how stressful that is,” Biden said in a video posted on Twitter. He said he was ordering his administration “to do everything possible to ensure there’s enough safe baby formula and that it’s quickly reaching families that need it the most.”
The Abbott plant was shuttered after the FDA began looking into four bacterial infections in infants who had consumed formula from the plant.
Earlier this week, Califf said the investigation is ongoing and hasn’t yet determined whether bacteria from the plant caused the infections. Abbott has said there is no direct evidence linking its products to the illnesses.
At Thursday’s appearance before the House subcommittee, Califf evaded questions about why the FDA waited until February to begin its investigation when the first infant infection was reported in September, the AP reported.
Califf’s claim that he couldn’t comment on the situation due to the ongoing investigation was rejected by several lawmakers.
“It’s not acceptable to say you just can’t comment on it,” Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.) said. “This is a problem I’ve seen over and over with the FDA: You guys aren’t good at communicating.”
The delay in launching an investigation was slammed as “unconscionable,” by Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), the AP reported.
“American people rely on FDA to protect infant health by ensuring that they have access to safe formula,” Bishop said.
More information
HealthDay has tips from experts for parents struggling to feed babies in this crisis.
SOURCES: Associated Press; Twitter
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was searching for!
Hey! Would you mind if I share your blog with my myspace group? There’s a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Many thanks
Hiya, I am really glad I have found this information. Nowadays bloggers publish only about gossips and web and this is actually irritating. A good blog with exciting content, this is what I need. Thank you for keeping this site, I will be visiting it. Do you do newsletters? Can’t find it.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article. I’ll be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly comeback.
Hey, you used to write excellent, but the last few posts have been kinda boring… I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Excellent web site. A lot of useful info here. I’m sending it to several friends ans also sharing in delicious. And of course, thanks for your sweat!
I was recommended this web site through my cousin. I’m not positive whether or not this submit is written by him as no one else recognize such precise about my difficulty. You’re wonderful! Thanks!
As soon as I discovered this website I went on reddit to share some of the love with them.
I always was concerned in this subject and still am, thankyou for posting.
390159 595005Wonderful weblog layout here. Was it hard creating a good looking website like this? 187192
Enjoyed studying this, very good stuff, thankyou.
I needed to put you that little bit of note to help thank you so much once again just for the amazing suggestions you’ve documented in this case. It has been quite extremely generous of you to make openly precisely what a number of us would’ve marketed for an electronic book in making some money for their own end, notably since you might have tried it if you desired. The points likewise worked to be a fantastic way to fully grasp the rest have a similar zeal just like my personal own to know way more in respect of this issue. I know there are many more enjoyable moments ahead for people who
597734 317709It can be difficult to write about this topic. I believe you did an excellent job though! Thanks for this! 46360
I dugg some of you post as I cerebrated they were extremely helpful extremely helpful
I do agree with all of the ideas you have presented in your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for novices. Could you please extend them a bit from next time? Thanks for the post.
Everything is very open and very clear explanation of issues. was truly information. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for sharing superb informations. Your website is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you’ve on this web site. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found simply the info I already searched all over the place and just couldn’t come across. What an ideal web site.
Utterly pent articles, Really enjoyed looking at.
I was reading through some of your blog posts on this site and I believe this site is very informative! Continue putting up.
I dugg some of you post as I thought they were extremely helpful very beneficial