Shelves for baby formula usually sit nearly empty at a store in downtown Washington, DC on May 22, 2022.
Samuel Corum | AFP | Getty Images
Abbott Nutrition resumed baby formula production at its Sturgis, Michigan, plant on Saturday, a step toward addressing a nationwide shortage,
The company has been given the green light from the US Food and Drug Administration after meeting “preliminary requirements” as part of a May 16 Consent Decree,
The company said it would resume production of Alicare, a formula for babies who struggle to digest its products, along with other specialty and metabolic formulas.
Abbott aims to release an initial Alicare product around June 20 and is working to meet guidelines to restart production of Similac and other formulas.
“We understand the urgent need for formula and our top priority is to get high-quality, safe formula into the hands of families across America,” an Abbott spokesperson said in a statement. “We will ramp up production as quickly as possible while meeting all requirements.”
While supply problems began early in the Covid-19 pandemic, the closure of the Michigan plant in February caused problems to worsen due to contamination checks.
The FDA investigation began after four infants were hospitalized with bacterial infections from drinking its powdered formula. Two children died.
“The FDA continues to work diligently to ensure the safe resumption of production of infant formula at Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan, facility,” the FDA said in a statement.
“The agency expects that the measures and steps being taken, and Abbott Nutrition’s Sturgis, Michigan, facility, will mean the ability to safely resume production in the near term will mean more and more infant formula.” is either on the way or is already moving on store shelves,” the FDA said.
Abbott Nutrition is the largest baby formula manufacturer in the US