U.S. importing baby formula from Mexico to ease shortage

Washington –

Wednesday’s announcement by the Biden administration indicated that it will provide logistical support to Mexico to import approximately 16 million 8-ounce baby formula containers from Mexico. This is part of its efforts in addressing nationwide supply shortages due to the closure of the largest U.S. manufacturer.

The Department of Health and Human Services has contracted trucks to transport approximately 1 million pounds of Gerber Good Start Gentle infant formulation from a Nestle plant to U.S. retail outlets and the White House. saidThe amount of baby formula imported to the U.S. has nearly doubled to date. Baby formula has been brought into the U.S. by cargo flights from Australia and Europe, with two additional rounds of air shipments beginning this weekend.

The White House is working to increase supply as it faces pressure from parents about supply issues. In February, regulators closed a Michigan plant owned by Abbott. This is the largest domestic producer of baby formula. After the company had committed to additional safety protocols and sanitizing the plant, the plant was reopened on June 4. However, it was closed again more than a week later after severe weather caused extensive damage to the plant.

The company saidIt takes time to assess the damage and re-sanitize factory after heavy rains and severe thunderstorms that swept through southwestern Michigan in June 13.

The Food and Drug Administration made an attempt to relax federal import regulations last month to allow baby formula to ship to the United States. Biden also authorized the use Defense Production Act to provide federal support for formula moving from overseas to the U.S.

Wednesday’s announcement includes air shipments to Texas of 1.65 million 8 ounce equivalents of Nestle Supremepro 2 infant formula, as well as 5.5 million 8 ounce equivalents of Bubs infant formulation in two shipments on June 26th and July 5.

According to the White House, 32 flights and nearly 19 million 8-ounce bottles of infant formula will be brought into the U.S. by Operation Fly Formula (or “Operation Fly Formula”) by June 26th.