Skip to main content
PEN - The Global Resource for Nutrition Practice

North American Shortage of Infant Formula Sparks International Response

Posted: 2022-06-15
North American Shortage of Infant Formula Sparks International Response

What’s happened to start the shortage?

There is a shortage of infant formula in the U.S. that has implications for the Canadian market. The shortage can be traced to reasons starting with the pandemic, which disrupted supply chains and shipping of ingredients used in infant formula, leading to labour shortages (1,2). Shortage of infant formulas for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions is of particular concern as there are fewer opportunities for formula substitutions. 
 
Issues of panic buying and hoarding have led to the supply of these products not meeting the demand for more formula. There was a major recall of powdered infant formula in February 2022 due to reports of bacteria (Cronobacter sakazakii) infection, further straining  supply (3). Further complicating supply issues are the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) regulations and labelling requirements, which make it difficult to purchase formula from other countries (1,2).   
 
There are other issues outside of U.S. supply that are also affecting access to formula and its safe usage. These include emergency situations such as flooding, wildfires and tornados (4). A global rise in food costs is also threatening food security.
 

What is happening now in the U.S.?

  • The large infant formula manufacturing plant has re-opened and will begin to produce more formula (2). Infant formula will gradually become available, prioritizing producing specialized formulas (5). 
  • The FDA has expanded imports of formula from other countries, including the U.K. and Australia (6), noting differences in iron content (higher in American formulas) and DHA levels (higher in European products) (7).
  • The FDA is working with other manufacturers to produce more infant formula to help address supply and demand issues (2).
 

How is this affecting other countries outside of the U.S.?

AU
Australia
Despite the large infant formula shipment to the U.S., Bubs Australia, a large supplier of formula, has assured Australian consumers that “it has supply to satisfy demand both in Australia and the United States (8),” and supply will remain unchanged.
 
Canada
Canada
With the plant closure in the U.S., infant formulas designed for infants with food allergies and certain medical conditions (amino acid-based and extensively hydrolyzed infant formulas) are in short supply in Canada (9). The Government of Canada has created an interim policy to facilitate the importation of equivalent and safe infant formulas from the U.S. and Netherlands (8) until December 2022. The list of products is available in Appendix A of the interim policy.
 
UK
United Kingdom
In the U.K., suppliers are providing the U.S. with additional infant formulas as trade policies allow (6).
 

What can you share with those affected by infant formula shortages?

Recommendations from U.S. and Canadian governments for consumers include (5,10,11):
  • Be flexible on formula brands if regular products are not available and continue to prepare formula according to package directions.
  • Speak to a dietitian or health care provider to discuss the infant’s nutritional needs and possible alternative products and/or starting solid food depending on the infant’s age.
  • Do not make or use homemade formula, watered down formula or use other milk substitutes (cow's milk and other milk substitutes, including goat's milk, evaporated milk, soy or rice beverages) that do not meet infants’ nutritional needs.
  • Do not buy or acquire infant formula or human milk from unknown sources, which can be contaminated. Human milk banks carefully screen and store human milk to reduce contamination risk.
  • The lactating parent should aim to maintain milk supply and consult a health care professional if advice is needed on an allergen-free diet.
 

See Additional Content:

 
References
  1. Bulter K, Paris M, Sam C, Benhamou M. What you need to know about the US formula shortage. Bloomberg. 17 May 2022; updated 2022 Jun 2. Available from: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2022-us-baby-formula-shortage-explained/
  2. Thompson D. What’s Behind America’s Shocking Baby-Formula Shortage? Bacteria, a virus, a trade policy—and a lesson. The Atlantic. 2022 May 28. Available from: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/05/baby-formula-shortage-abbott-recall/629828/
  3. Government of Canada. Certain Abbott brand powdered infant formula products recalled due to Cronobacter sakazakii and Salmonella. 2022 Feb 17. Available from: https://recalls-rappels.canada.ca/en/alert-recall/certain-abbott-brand-powdered-infant-formula-products-recalled-due-cronobacter
  4. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. Disaster planning: infant and child feeding. 2022 Apr 29. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/disasters-infant-feeding/index.html
  5. Health Canada. Information for families during the shortage of formula for infants with food allergies. 2022 Jun 9. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/infant-care/infant-formula/shortage.html
  6. Cohen E, Gumbrecht J. More overseas infant formula coming to US next week as shortage continues. 2022 Jun 1. Available from: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/01/health/infant-formula-shipments-supply/index.html 
  7. Lane A. Everything you need to know about European baby formula, US Today. 2022 May 19. Available from: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/reviewed/2022/05/19/baby-formula-shortage-what-know-european-baby-formula/9812777002/
  8. ABC Net. Baby formula shortage stings US as Australian company ships millions of cans to States. 2022 May 28. Available from:   https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-05-29/australia-sends-baby-formula-to-united-states/101108386
  9. Health Canada. Interim policy on the importation and sale of infant formulas, human milk fortifiers and dietary products for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism to mitigate shortages. 2022 Mar 10. Available from: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/legislation-guidelines/policies/interim-policy-importation-sale-infant-formula-human-milk-fortifiers-metabolic-products.html#s7
  10. Long C. Keeping Infants Safe in Midst of Formula Shortages. USDA Government. 2022 May 16. Available from: https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2022/05/13/keeping-infants-safe-midst-formula-shortages  
  11. CP24. Canadian pediatricians hold firm on stance against cow's milk despite U.S. advice. 2022 May 18. Available from: https://www.cp24.com/news/canadian-pediatricians-hold-firm-on-stance-against-cow-s-milk-despite-u-s-advice-1.5909464?cache=yes%2F7.553091
Back to Trending Topics