FDA Commissioner Robert Califf Says Baby Formula Shortage Will Likely End in 'About 2 Months'

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf predicted that the dilemma of the Americans on the baby formula shortage may likely end in about two months.

Califf made his comments on Thursday as he appeared before the Senate Health, Labor, and Pensions Committee, per CNBC.

"I can't be exact ... my expectation is that within two months we should be beyond normal and with a plethora [of supply]," Califf underscored, according to New York Post.

The FDA commissioner then explained that the dilemma of baby formula shortage would soon be eliminated due to the measures being taken by the government.

It can be recalled that the federal government this month allowed foreign manufacturers to send baby formulas into the U.S. Furthermore, the Defense Department is also airlifting the equivalent of 1.5 million bottles of baby formula from Europe.

FDA Addresses Complaint About Lax Practices on Baby Formula Plant

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf also addressed the complaint of a whistleblower that Abbott's Michigan Plant had lax practices and regulatory violations.

It can be recalled that at least four infants who consumed baby formulas produced in Abbott's Sturgis, Michigan plant fell ill with Cronobacter infections.

Politico reported that a whistleblower mailed about the conditions of the plant in October. However, the FDA inspected the plant in January and found five different strains of potentially deadly bacteria called Cronobacter sakazakii.

Senators slammed the agency for taking too long to physically inspect the plant after receiving the reports of contamination in the facility.

Califf acknowledged that the FDA responded too slowly to the complaint of the whistleblower.

"There [are] systemic issues at FDA and in our interactions with the industry and in our authorities that need to be corrected," Califf told the lawmakers.

Baby Formula Shortage Update: Michigan Plant Will Not Yet Reopen - FDA

Califf also said on Thursday that Abbott's Michigan plant will not yet reopen, citing several issues they have discovered in the facility.

FDA inspectors reportedly found bacteria growing from multiple sites, standing water, roof leaks, and inadequate hygiene. The FDA commissioner likened the facility at one point to dining at an unsanitary restaurant.

The Abbott plant was temporarily closed in February, following the inspection held by the FDA. The plant closure then triggered a nationwide baby formula shortage.

"We knew that ceasing plant operations would create supply problems, but we had no choice given the unsanitary conditions," Calliff told lawmakers.

Abbott, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Nestle USA, and Perrigo control the 90 percent of the domestic baby formula market in the U.S. Abbott alone has a 40 percent share of the U.S. baby formula market.

Senators, inlcuding Bernie Sanders, called on Califf to increase the number of companies that are producing infant formulas so that the U.S. will not once again encounter the baby formula shortage.

"It's not good for the country to have such an undiversified supply chain and manufacturing chain for a critical product like that that's used by so many people... Anyone who meets the criteria within the US or outside the US that wants to import can bring formula in," FDA Commissioner Robert Califf underscored.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written By: Joshua Summers

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