A survey of 99 parents conducted anonymously in the U.S. revealed that almost half used at least one unsafe practice during the crisis. This was up from just 8% prior to the shortage. What is considered unsafe? The list includes using homemade formulas, using expired products, diluting formulas, and sharing human milk informally.
The number of parents who shared their human milk increased from 5% to 26% after the scarcity. The need to water down formula increased as well, from 2% prior to the scarcity of formula to 29% after it became increasingly difficult to obtain.
Researchers were shocked by the statistics.
These are alarming stats. In a press release, Jennifer Smilowitz a faculty affiliated with the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology said that the infant formula shortage had increased food insecurity and posed a threat to the nutrition of millions of American babies. Our survey revealed that parents did not have many options to choose from and used unsafe methods to feed their babies.
Many parents, unsure of what to do next, were left on their own. We all remember the pressure we felt when driving for hours to get enough formula to last the week, and the worry of not knowing how to obtain the next batch.
What to do when you can’t get infant formula
Baby formula shortages: Inequalities and disparities
The supply shortage resulted from both pandemic supply issues and the closure of an Abbott Nutrition facility in Michigan. The company produces more than 40 percent of the baby formula sold in the U.S.
Smilowitz says that 90% of infant formula sold in America is sold by just four companies. This has led to systemic failures which inequitably affect low-income communities. Abbott held a majority of WIC contracts at the time that supplies began to disappear from store shelves. Researchers were able reach 75% of respondents who used WIC.
Pasteurized milk from human donors was used by parents, and is considered to be a safe substitute. During the shortage the number of parents using milk banks grew from 2% up to 26%. The milk banks were limited in number and the cost of using them. The cost of donor milk can range from $3 to $4 per ounce.
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Stopping another baby formula shortage
The team didn’t want to just look at the exact situation during the shortage of infant formula, but also find solutions to similar problems.
The report recommended policy changes that would provide families with better clinical support for prenatal and postnatal breastfeeding. Smilowitz wants to improve access to donor milk banked and give parents more access to commercially available products.
Changes in workplace policies are needed to help breastfeeding mothers. It’s possible that inadequately paid parental leave could cause some parents start formula-feeding earlier. There’s also the question of providing parents with space and time to pump at work. The authors claim that these policies are disproportionately harmful to low-income parents.
Smilowitz says, “We shouldn’t forget what happened when there was a formula shortage.” If the U.S. does not change its healthcare, workplace, and regulatory policies, a new crisis will be looming.
Smilowitz says it’s not clear if children who are affected by this shortage will face any long-term problems.
We will not know until a decade or so if the shortage of formula has affected brain development. We can only pray that the formula shortage had only acute effects, and that babies will be strong enough to overcome potential long-term issues.
- Jennifer Smilowitz is a faculty member affiliated with the UC Davis Department of Food Science and Technology
It’s not the first report to call for changes in order to avoid another baby formula disaster. According to a report released last year, the first step in preventing another baby formula crisis is to make sure that all critical formulas are not made by one factory or company.
The authors noted that “some of the most specialized formulations, like metabolic formulas are not major income producers for businesses, and incentives may be required to ensure the supply sources are more than just one company or factory.”
They called for a broader reassessment of how products are marketed. They say that nonfederal organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics, and others should oversee this in partnership with federal government.
Another thing that might help is for agencies and WIC offices to create lists of specific formulas recalled with names of similar products in categories such as amino-acid base, or low lactose. The authors state that this list should be easily accessible to everyone.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published a plan earlier this year to combat future challenges in the supply of baby formula. The strategies include creating risk mitigation and redundancy management plans, improving inspections at manufacturing facilities and accelerating premarket submissions of new formulas.
The Federal Trade Commission, meanwhile, is investigating the baby formula shortage to determine if manufacturers such as Abbott improperly coordinated with market participants in order to bid for state contracts. The FTC is also investigating if deals have affected sales outside the WIC program.
Keep your baby’s formula safe
Even though this period in history left many parents feeling powerless, you can still learn from it.
Remember that the pathogen responsible for the contamination of the Abbott formula, Cronobacter sakazakii, is a common one that does not affect the majority of us. It can still be dangerous to babies, especially those with weakened immune systems and premature births. It is best to sanitize your breast pump and bottles.
Do you think that you will be using formula soon? Keep a few extra containers on hand, but be sure to check the expiration date.