U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday debated if enough has changed to prevent a repeat of the infant formula shortage, more than a year after a nationwide crisis began. Frank Yiannas, former deputy commissioner of the FDA Office of Food Policy & Response from 2018 to 2023, said, “[…]The nation remains one outbreak, one tornado, one flood, or cyberattack away from finding itself in a similar place to that of February 17, 2022.”
Baby formula
Abbott Laboratories is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) almost a year after the Sturgis baby-formula plant closed when illnesses were reported. First reported by The Wall Street Journal, the DOJ’s consumer protection branch is looking into conduct at the plant that led to its shutdown.
The infant formula shortage began in mid-February after Abbott Laboratories issued a recall and closed its Sturgis, Michigan plant after several infants became sick and at least two died.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the administration is working to “cut red tape,” increase imports of formula and broaden what types of formula are available to participants in the Women, Infants and Children nutrition program.