Formula Shortages Continue....... Over 2 years later...
If you saw my recent Blog Post featuring Part 1, you know that the formula shortage is indeed not over. In fact, it seems to be worsening again as I type this..
If you didn't catch that post, check it out here!
As I was updating some resources and such for Baby Food and Fun and you all, I was casually searching online. As we saw in Blog Post 1, currently there are out of stock issues with Gerber Good Start Gentle, Gerber SoothePro, Kendamil Goat, Bobbie Organic standard formula,
Gerber has removed all infant formula products from their websites at this time. The only thing available to purchase when it comes to feeding your newborn is a $10 gift card... Gerber is owned by Nestle, so I continued to search a bit in this sense... but nope, no signs of Gerber formula to be found...
The USDA sent notice to various state agency’s regarding anticipated supply disruptions to continue for Gerber infant formulas. Specifically
Gerber Good Start SoothePro
Gerber Good Start Gentle.
When I saw this, I posted on my IG story, essentially asking where the formulas were?! ... Gerber did respond and sent me to this website!
Gerber has recently transitioned to Perrigo for their manufacturing. This transition has taken time, but it is nice to see this update! Perrigo makes Store Brand formula and is well equipped in formula production
As I was continuing on with my searches, I went to Happy Family Organics website to check on Happy Baby. Infant Formula..
I was unfortunately met with this message pop up...
"We are currently experiencing an out-of-stock situation of our Happy Baby Organic Stage 1 and Stage 2 formulas due to our manufacturer’s repeated failure to produce and deliver our product as promised.
As a team of parents and caregivers, we want to assure you that we are doing everything possible to ensure we can continue to support you with the nourishment your babies depend on.
Our Happy Baby Organic Stage 1 Sensitive Infant Formula is and will remain in supply. While this formula has a different base recipe and is a reduced lactose option, it may work for your little one. You can learn more about our Sensitive option here. We recommend speaking with your pediatrician to see if this reduced lactose blend can support your little one’s feeding needs.
You can also use our store locator to find available supply near you. For more information, please see our latest FAQs here. "
The frustrations amongst parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals are continuing to bubble. I knew this crisis would take some time to dig ourselves out of, but I don't think I imagined that I'd still be sharing unavailable lists like these,
It's been over 2 years since Abbott / Similac initiated their infant formula recall that put the formula industry into a tailspin. It's been 27 months...
844 days to be exact.
So, why does it feel like I'm sharing info from day 83 instead?....
When is enough, enough?
Happy Baby's Statement mentions using their Sensitive formula option instead of their standard formula while it is out of stock. This is not something I would recommend as there is typically little/no reasoning for baby to limit lactose. If baby has been tolerating their standard infant formula, it would be best advised to trial another, comparable formula rather than use a Sensitive version.
Since I mentioned that resource I was working on, let's dive in!
I've updated my infant formula comparables guide which categorizes each formula based on nutrient breakdown and other special features! It also has common terms to know when it comes to formula feeding!
Get your FREE guide here!!
And just as a refresher here.....
A few examples & reasons I KNOW this shortage is still in full force:
The hospital I was working for had an ever-evolving list of products out of stock with estimated return dates. On my last day, it was the worst I had seen in the last months.... Products include:
Fibersource HN tube feeding formula
Isosource 1.5 tube feeding formula
Impact AR
Boost High Protein
Boost Plus
Vital HP tube feeding formula,
Low* Peptamen VHP tube feeding formula.....
Abbott has also recently released a list of discontinued items, in an effort to better "streamline Abbott's portfolio". Some items have been long out of stock, while others.. well this comes as a surprise. One thing is certain though, each product serves a specific purpose. So it is definitely a bummer to see some of the products they have chosen to discontinue.
One reason this list of discontinued products has been an extra bummer?
Abbott's communications regarding this have been poor at best I personally am on a number of email and communications lists, as an R.D., as an advocate in this space, and as a parent, yet I have not found any record of communications on this topic. No specific alerts to the mass majority. The only way I found out about this list- through other R.D.'s. Through the grapevine. Via BuildUp RDNs. Via good friends.
and the thing is... I wasn't alone in that sense.. Each of my close R.D. friends that I've spoken with on this topic, discovered this info through the grapevine. Two of these R.D.'s are still actively working in the hospital setting, one within a hospital system that primarily uses Abbott products... and they still weren't informed!
It's exhausting to play these kinds of games. After over 2 years of the ebb and flow of out of stocks formulas and supplements, I can tell you.. we are tired. Healthcare is tired of this. Those who need and use these products are tired of this. Part of my job is to help connect those who need nutrition, with nutrition... but if the main players aren't communicating what tools we have as R.D.s, it makes it much tougher to make those connections, accurately. A lot has been done to work towards improvements, but at the end of the day, we also need accountability, transparency, ethical practices, safe products, reliability, truly sustainable practices, and more if we want to come to a genuine end to this ever-going crisis. And man, do I want to come to a genuine end to this crisis....
❤❤
Thank you for your support and love in this space! It means more to me than you will ever know.
I truly enjoy sharing this information and I hope you find the information provided valuable. If you do find this information helpful, I kindly ask that you consider sharing - via social media, word of mouth, email, etc. I would love to help support as many out there as I can! <3
Want to make sure you don't miss out on important and valuable information like this?! Hit that link/button below and fill out the quick form! You'll get an email notice when new and important Blog topics are posted + you'll get a copy of my FREE monthly newsletter!!
Fill Out This Quick Form to Get All The Info, Updates, and Fun!! Don't Miss Out!!
Thank you again for giving Baby Food & Fun, LLC a place to grow and flourish, just like our kids :)
Jessica Enderle, R.D., L.D.
Comments