The shortage of infant milk in the US and the law from the Cold War era

In an effort to solve her problem lack of baby milk in the US which is causing a headache to his governmentUS President Joe Biden announced the creation of an air bridge yesterday Wednesday and made use of a law dating back to the Cold War era.

The Department of Defense “will use its contracts with commercial airlines, as it did in the first months of the Covid pandemic, to import products from overseas factories” that meet US health standards, the White House said in a statement.

The plan, dubbed “Fly formula”, would “accelerate the import and distribution of baby milk” and provide support “to manufacturers who continue to increase their production”, the img added.

Alongside Biden enacted the Cold Defense Act, which dates back to the Cold War, to give priority to baby milk factories.

Letter to the ministers

This shortage was initially caused by supply chain problems and labor shortages due to the pandemic. But the shortcomings infant formula deteriorated after the closure of an Abbott plant in Michigan in February.

On February 17, after the deaths of two babies, Abbot announced that it was “voluntarily recalling” all milk powder produced by its plant in Michigan, including Similac, which is used by millions of families in USAwhile it also suspended its operation.

An investigation identified the problem milk, but Abbott only finalized an agreement with U.S. justice on Monday to resume production at the plant.

The lack of such a basic product for many parents has turned into a political crisis for the Democratic president, who is particularly criticized by Republicans.

Biden, who wants to stress that he is acting to address the problem that is affecting his popularity even less than six months before the November midterm elections, sent a letter to the Ministers of Health and Agriculture yesterday.

“I urge you to take all necessary and appropriate steps to increase imports of baby milk,” Biden said, noting that his government’s efforts to resume production after the closure of the Abbott plant in Michigan allowed production to take place. “More baby milk in April than before the recall” of the problem lots.

Agriculture Minister Tom Vilsack responded immediately by announcing that his ministry would “immediately” begin implementing presidential decrees to supply baby milk stores “as soon as possible”.

Nestle, which has two plants in the United States for the production of baby milk, announced on Tuesday its intention to send additional quantities of the product to the country from Switzerland and the Netherlands.

According to data company Datasembly, by the end of last week 43% of the most popular baby milk items had been sold out of stores across the US.

For many families, infant milk is essential, especially in the most vulnerable households where new mothers are forced to return to work very quickly after giving birth and are unable to breastfeed their babies.

Adding to their concern about shortages are price increases.

The upset is evident on social media, where posts with instructions for making baby milk at home have hundreds of thousands of notifications, despite pediatricians’ warnings that the product may be dangerous for babies.