Abbott Nutrition is restarting production of its most popular baby formula, Similac, at its Michigan plant, with the product expected to hit shelves in about six weeks.
The formula will undergo “enhanced” pre- and post-production testing before being shipped — months after bacterial contamination concerns shut down the facility in Sturgis, Michigan, and exacerbated a national shortage that sent parents scrambling to find products to feed their infants.
EFFECT OF OMICRON-SPECIFIC BOOSTERS ‘REMAINS TO BE SEEN,’ VACCINE EXPERTS SAY
“We know that the nationwide infant formula shortage has been difficult for the families we serve, and while restarting Similac production in Michigan is an important milestone, we won’t rest until this product is back on shelves,” said Abbott CEO Robert Ford in a statement on Friday. “Making infant formula is a responsibility we take very seriously, and parents can feel confident in the quality and safety of Similac and other Abbott formulas.”
Abbott expects to ship more than 8 million pounds of infant formula by the end of August, surpassing shipments from the same period last year, as it aims to ramp up production to address the nationwide shortage. Last month, Abbott resumed production of its EleCare baby formula and its metabolic formulas, with those products set to begin shipping to stores in the coming weeks.
The company warned that resuming production after a monthslong shutdown is a “complex process” as it ensures equipment is working properly, which will likely lead to stops and starts from “time to time.” Just after the company resumed production at the Michigan facility in June, it was forced to pause operations for several weeks after severe thunderstorms and heavy rains flooded portions of the plant.
The Michigan facility was shuttered for nearly four months after the Food and Drug Administration received complaints of infants falling ill with bacterial infections after consuming formula made in the plant. Cronobacter sakazakii, a rare bacterial infection that can be deadly to infants, was found in at least four babies who had consumed formula from the site, two of whom died.
The plant has since upped its safety mechanisms and said that if it detects the presence of the bacteria when testing the formula, it will investigate and coordinate with the FDA.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“Since our restart, this has occurred with a couple of batches, and in those cases we found the issue, addressed it and no affected product has been or will be distributed,” the company said.
The Biden administration has coordinated flights importing infant formula from overseas to address the shortage in recent months. Last week, the administration announced its 20th flight, which transported approximately 68,000 pounds of formula from Switzerland and the Netherlands to New York City.
