One of the most important products for new parents is the scarce supply. The infant formula, which receives three-quarters of babies in the United States during the first six months, is increasingly sold out to retailers across the country.
The supply of formula is so limited that retailers like Walgreens even limit how much consumers can buy at one time. A spokesman for the pharmacy chain told CBS MoneyWatch that it was limiting customers to three infant and toddler formula products per transaction, citing “increased demand and several problems with suppliers.”
COVID-19-related supply chain thicknesses contribute to the shortage of formulas in the United States, including the manufacturers that have the most difficulty purchasing key ingredients, packaging, and the shortage of work, with these factors combining to affect production and distribution. In addition, a major baby formula reminder in January it exacerbated the shortage.
In U.S. retailers, 29% of best-selling baby formula products were sold in the week of March 13, according to a Datasembly analysis, which tracked the stock of baby formula in addition. of 11,000 stores. This is a sharp increase from 11% in November.
“That’s an impressive number you don’t see for other categories,” said Ben Reich, general manager of Datasembly at CBS MoneyWatch.
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“We’ve been tracking it over time and it’s increasing dramatically. We see this category being affected by economic conditions more dramatically than others,” Reich added.
In 24 U.S. states, 30 percent of the formula was depleted by mid-March, while other states were seeing even more severe shortages. In Minnesota, 54% of baby formula products were sold out at the same time. According to Datasembly, parents in Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, North and South Dakota, Rhode Island and Texas are also struggling with a severe shortage of at least 40%.
In comparison, during the first seven months of 2021, between 2% and 8% of infant formula products were depleted.
“We realized it was hard to find maybe a couple of months ago, two, three months ago, and we couldn’t find it recently,” said a San Francisco resident. Irene Anhoeck told CBS News earlier this year. “We’ve tried every local Target. We’ve checked Costco, Costco Online, Walgreens, Long’s. We can’t find it anywhere.”
Product shortages worsened further in February, when Abbott Nutrition issued a widespread withdrawal of its powdered baby formula products, following reports from disease among infants who had consumed baby products. Last week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning telling consumers not to use any of the withdrawn products made at the Abbott Nutrition Sturgis, Michigan facility after that. he found the plant unhygienic.
Avoid accumulation
The Child Nutrition Council of America recently assured parents in a statement on its website that manufacturers are increasing production to meet the needs of families. The council also encourages parents to keep a supply or formula for 10 days to two weeks at home, while urging them not to store products.
A CVS Health spokesman acknowledged that “product supply challenges are currently affecting most of the retail industry.” The company is working with “national brand baby formula vendors to solve this problem and we regret any inconvenience our customers may have,” the spokesman added.
In January, Enfamil, a leading brand of infant formula, said it was facing an unprecedented 18% increase in demand for infant formula nationwide.
“We’ve taken steps to increase production and are currently shipping 50% more product, to address the issues as quickly as possible,” a spokesman for Reckitt, a manufacturer of Enfamil, told CBS News in a statement at the time.
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