New Report Suggests, US Baby Formula Shortage Deepens

New data suggests a growing shortage of baby food in the United States, especially in southern and southwestern states.

According to the latest statistics from market research firm IRI, 23% of baby formula was sold out nationwide in the week ending May 22, compared to 21% in the previous week. Before the first week of January and the recall of baby formula produced by Abbott Laboratories, 11% of milk powder was out of stock due to a shortage of pandemic-related supply chains and inflation.

President Joe Biden met with baby formula makers on Wednesday and vowed to continue efforts to speed up domestic production and import milk powder from other countries.

The CEOs of baby formula-producing companies said that they have increased production to meet the growing demand. Many CEOs have also used the word crisis to describe this situation. 

The Biden administration last month announced a program to increase formula imports until US production returns to normal. On Wednesday,  Joe Biden announced more operational fly formula flights, including Kendamil infant formula manufactured by UK-based Kendal Nutricare and Australia-based Bubs Australia.