Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Biden Says Impact Of Formula Plant Shutdown Took Him By Surprise
AP: Biden Says He Wasn't Informed Early On Of Baby Formula Woes
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said he was not briefed on the prospect of nationwide shortages of infant formula for about two months, and he acknowledged the strain on families as his administration struggles to address the situation. Yet company executives at a meeting Biden hosted from the White House told the president that they knew the substantial impact that the shutdown of a major production plant in February would have on the U.S. supply almost immediately. “They did, but I didn’t,” Biden told reporters later, saying he was not made aware of the severity until early April. (Miller, 6/1)
Politico: Biden Says He Didn't Know How Serious Infant Formula Shortage Was Until April
The Biden administration has reached a deal to transport 1.25 million cans of baby formula from an Australian company into the U.S. amid shortages that have sent parents scrambling for supplies. ... In addition to the Bubs flights, the U.S. will also import 3.7 million bottles worth of Kendamil infant formula from the UK via emergency flights, the White House announced Wednesday.
The New York Times: U.S. Will Airlift Baby Formula From Abroad As Shortages Grow Worse
The nationwide shortage of baby formula is getting worse, with an increasing number of retailers and online sellers posting out-of-stock notices even as President Biden met on Wednesday with executives of five baby food companies, and announced new shipments of formula from Europe to help restock American shelves. (Shear and Creswell, 6/1)
CNBC: Reckitt Baby Formula Plants Can Produce 21 Million Bottles For U.S.
Baby formula manufacturer Reckitt has the capacity to produce at least 21 million 8-ounce bottles of infant formula at its plants in Asia and Latin America for the U.S. market if the Food and Drug Administration gives it the green light, a senior company executive said Wednesday. Parents have struggled to find food for their infants after Abbott, previously the largest formula manufacturer in the U.S., was forced to close its plant in Sturgis, Michigan, and recall several batches of formula in February due to bacterial contamination at the facility. (Kimball, 6/1)
Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Baby Formula Shortage: Mississippi WIC Program Adds More Products
The Mississippi Women Infants and Children program has added additional infant formula products and package sizes to the program’s approved product list, the Mississippi State Department of Health announced in a press statement Wednesday morning. “The Mississippi WIC program remains concerned about the national infant formula shortage and is taking the following action to ensure that its participants continue to receive all supplemental WIC benefits,” the MSHD press release states. “WIC participants who are unable to find their prescribed medical formula in stores may contact their WIC clinic to quickly change to an alternate formula that is currently available.” (6/1)
