Abbott restarts production of infant formulas at Michigan plant

Abbott Nutrition restarted production of infant formulas at a Michigan plant that was shut down for months after the company initiated a recall of its powder formulas, beginning the country’s ongoing formula shortage.

The company said powdered formulas could be available in 2 weeks.

Abbott ceased production and initiated a voluntary recall of certain products in February after the FDA found evidence of Cronobacter sakazakii in nonproduct contact areas of the plant in Sturgis, Michigan.

Researchers have identified powdered infant formula as the source of a significant increase in invasive Cronobacter infections in recent years.

In mid-May, the FDA and Abbott released details of corrective actions that Abbott agreed to take to ensure it could produce safe powdered formulas at the plant.

“Abbott is starting production of EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas, with initial EleCare product release to consumers beginning on or about June 20,” Abbott Nutrition said in a statement. “We're also working hard to fulfill the steps necessary to restart production of Similac and other formulas and will do so as soon as we can.”

Meanwhile, efforts have been made elsewhere to increase the country’s supply of infant formula. In an update published last Friday, the FDA said Nestlé was preparing to ship about 1.3 million cans of its Gerber Good Start Gentle formula, which would constitute nearly 33 million 8-ounce bottles, to the U.S. from Mexico — the greatest quantity of formula shipped so far. The products will be on store shelves by July or August.

On May 26, FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf, MD, addressed a meeting of the Senate Health Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on a timetable for a return to normalcy.

“I can't be exact about this, but my expectation is that within 2 months, we should be beyond normal and with a plethora [of formula products],” Califf said.

“What you'll see is due to all these measures being taken, the shortage is going to be getting better and better,” Califf said. “The big focus is on the specialty formulas ... in the Abbott facility, that is the first thing to come off the line, because they were such a dominant company in that regard.”

References:

CSPAN. FDA commissioner says baby formula shortage should end within two months. https://www.c-span.org/video/?c5016752/fda-commissioner-baby-formula-shortage-end-months. Published May 26, 2022. Accessed June 6, 2022.

FDA. FDA infant formula update: June 3, 2022. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-infant-formula-update-june-3-2022. Published June 3, 2022. Accessed June 6, 2022.