Incoming White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says shortages of baby formula are a priority for the Biden administration.
But she struggled to point to an individual at the White House tasked with addressing the issue while speaking to reporters on Wednesday.
During a press gaggle on board Air Force One, a reporter asked, âWhoâs running point on the formula issue at the White House?â
âAt the White House, I donât know,â Jean-Pierre said before laughing.
She added, âBut I can find out for you and get you a person whoâs running point.â
Listen to the moment below:
Jean-Pierre said the administration has been âtrackingâ the issue and that it is a âtop priorityâ for the administration.
As The Washington Post notes, there has been a low supply of baby formula for months.
However, it reported, âIn recent weeks, the products have been especially hard to find, forcing some retailers to limit purchases as the Food and Drug Administration scrambles to respond to the crisis.â
The Post explains, âOngoing supply chain disruptions tied to the coronavirus pandemic have fueled shortages of a wide range of consumer goods, but the lack of baby formula worsened in February after manufacturer Abbott issued a recall for products made at a Michigan plant and sold under the Similac, Alimentum and EleCare labels.â
âFour children â one in Minnesota, one in Texas, and two in Ohio â fell ill with bacterial infections, and two died,â it added.
To address the shortage, Abbott said it is âprioritizing production of infant formula productsâ and is air-shipping formula from its facility in Ireland.
Meanwhile, Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert Califf said in a statement on Tuesday, âWe recognize that many consumers have been unable to access infant formula and critical medical foods they are accustomed to using and are frustrated by their inability to do so.â
âWe are doing everything in our power to ensure there is adequate product available where and when they need it,â he continued.
âEnsuring the availability of safe, sole-source nutrition products like infant formula is of the utmost importance to the FDA. Our teams have been working tirelessly to address and alleviate supply issues and will continue doing everything within our authority to ensure the production of safe infant formula products,â he added.
