A hospital in Tennessee admitted two children due to the nationwide formula shortage.
Action News 5 reported the outlet was told while both children are in stable condition, they both have special needs and the formula they normally use is unavailable.
“This is a crisis for us in health care,” said Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, said.
He added, “This is not every child, not normal children, but literally the formula recall has led to these children requiring hospitalization.”
One of the children is reportedly of pre-school age while the other is a toddler.
According to Corkins, the bodies of the children did not tolerate the switch to another formula, as the outlet reported.
“This recall started in February. Even if you had several weeks of stock, we’re now out of the special formulas,” Corkins explained.
He continued, “So literally what we have is what we have. We have some things that we’re trying to find. We’re trying to use some alternatives but the standard ones, the ones you would think of, there is none to be had.”
Abbott Nutrition, a maker of baby formula, reached an agreement with the government this week to reopen one of the factories it closed, as NPR reported.
“Our number one priority is getting infants and families the high-quality formulas they need, and this is a major step toward re-opening our Sturgis facility so we can ease the nationwide formula shortage. We look forward to working with the FDA to quickly and safely re-open the facility,” Robert B. Ford, chairman and chief executive officer of Abbott, said in a statement.
He added, “We know millions of parents and caregivers depend on us and we’re deeply sorry that our voluntary recall worsened the nationwide formula shortage. We will work hard to re-earn the trust that moms, dads and caregivers have placed in our formulas for more than 50 years.”
Additionally, the FDA announced other plans to relieve the situation.
“We know many parents and caregivers are feeling frustrated by their inability to access needed or desired infant formula and critical medical foods,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said at a briefing.
He said the agency is easing restrictions on which manufacturers can sell formula for infants in the United States.
“Our new guidance streamlines the ability for companies, including those that do not normally sell infant formula in this country, to make products available to the U.S. market,” Califf said.
First Lady Jill Biden spoke out about the issue during a public service announcement.
“And I know you are worried about how you are going to feed your baby. The president sees you, he hears you, and his team is working around the clock to get you what you need,” she said.
