The shortage of infant milk observed in the USA is turning into a political crisiswith hundreds thousands of families struggling in front of empty shelves. According to the data company Datasembly, by the end of the first week of May more than 40% of the most popular types of baby milk had been depleted from stores across the country. The situation worsened after the closure of an Abbott plant in February.
THE White House, who is accused of delayed reaction and even indifference, presented yesterday some measures to address the problem. “It’s a job that takes months,” said Jen Psaki’s spokeswoman, explaining why the US government was so slow to respond. “Our message to the parents is this: we have heard, we want to do what we can,” he stressed in yesterday’s press briefing.
The Biden government is considering, among other things to increase infant milk importswhile the US produces 98% of the milk it consumes.
At the same time, he pointed out that he cooperates with the states in order to allow the most vulnerable citizens who baby milk is provided through coupons to choose from a wider variety of companies and packages.
The White House addressed the competition authority calling on it to confront the speculation that is observed, mainly with the resale of baby milk via the internet at very high prices.
Psaki pointed out that the White House is considering every option for to increase baby milk production even the enactment of the Defense Production Act, which allows the US president to make financial decisions by decree.
The same Biden He met yesterday with representatives of large chain stores and baby milk producers with whom he had “productive and encouraging” talks, as commented a federal government official who wished to remain anonymous.
The anxiety of parents and the criticism of Republicans against Biden
The Republicans were quick to criticize Biden“With Joe Biden having no plan (…) When we asked the White House about the shortcomings, they laughed,” said Eliz Stefanick, a Member of Parliament, who had been in contact with the federal authorities since February.
Randy Finstra, an Iowa lawmaker, said families in the area were “traveling 50, 75 to 100 miles trying to find” baby milk (a distance of 80 to 160 kilometers).
For her part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Democratic Nancy Pelosiexpressed her indignation yesterday: “Right now children are hungry, children are crying“We have to deal with the situation now.”
THE Sarah Khan, mother of three children aged 10 and 7 years and six months, was told of agony in front of empty shelves in and around Washington. “Already after the birth of my baby I noticed that there was a problem and next week she will be seven months old,” she said, who has managed to get by thanks to the milk cartons sent to her by friends and family by mail.
The situation is even more difficult for them parents of children who need special milk for medical reasons. Maya, three weeks old, is lactose intolerant. “We had no choice but to switch to vegetable milk,” explained San Diego’s father, Steve Hochman.
On the 17th of February after the death of two babies, the company Abbot announced that it “voluntarily recalls” all milk powder produced by its plant in Michigan, including Similac, used by millions of families in the United States.
After research, the problematic milk was identified, but Production at the Michigan plant has not resumed, exacerbating serious shortages that have created general supply chain problems as well as labor shortages.
Source: News Beast
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