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SALT LAKE CITY — Traveling from store to store to stare at empty shelves, scouring Facebook groups and spending hours on the phone every day has become a part of many parents' lives nationwide. It's no different for Utah parents who are also desperate to find infant formula.
The baby formula shortage has been months in the making with stores struggling to keep shelves stocked. In February, one of the largest suppliers of infant formula, Abbot Nutrition, had its production practically halted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The halt in production came after three brands of powdered baby formulas produced by the company were found to have potential bacterial infections.
Four infants drinking powdered formulas produced by the plant were hospitalized with Cronobacter sakazakii, with two of the infants dying. After a recall was issued, the agency advised parents not to buy or use certain batches of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powdered infant formulas.
While the recall and closure of Abbot Nutrition's plant exacerbated the issue, the shortage has been ongoing since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
"We have been addressing the formula situation all through COVID because there was panic buying in the beginning, that left our shelves depleted," said JoDell Geilmann-Parke, Utah Women, Infants and Children program vendor coordinator. "We've kind of been in recovery mode ever since the beginning of COVID."
Since the recall, the formula shortage is "pretty much what we've addressed all day, every day, and trying to make sure that families have access to the formulas that they need across the whole state," added Geilmann-Parke.
She said the agency is working closely with officials at Food and Nutrition Services, who communicate closely with federal agencies. Utah WIC has been able to authorize a wider spectrum of formulas to help increase availability but has still observed a decrease in supply on store shelves.
The social media market
The formula shortage has parents looking in a variety of places to purchase food for their infants, with many turning to the internet. Casie Meisenheimer, a mother of four, is among Utah parents who have reached out to Facebook groups in desperation.
Unable to consistently find formula for her 2-month-old baby on store shelves, online or even at her pediatrician's office, Meisenheimer has turned to other parents.
"I've just been nonstop. It's like a full-time job right now. I wake up in the morning and I check all the Facebook posts and see if anyone has any sample cans that they're willing to give, or if they have a can that they've purchased and have a receipt that I can pay for it. It's scary," said Meisenheimer.
I've just been nonstop. It's like a full-time job right now. I wake up in the morning and I check all the Facebook posts and see if anyone has any sample cans that they're willing to give, or if they have a can that they've purchased and have a receipt that I can pay for it. It's scary.
–Casie Meisenheimer, Utah parent
Her infant uses specialized formula to supplement his diet and help with his acid reflux and lactose intolerance. Meisenheimer has tried multiple formulas but struggled to find one her baby didn't react to.
The formulas Meisenheimer can't use are also listed in Facebook groups and immediately get picked up by equally desperate mothers.
"It's really up to moms just to stick together and help each other. Today I was added to a Formula Shortage Utah page where moms have been going around store to store taking pictures of the shelves for so that moms aren't having to drive from forever to empty shelves," said Meisenheimer. "There's a bunch of moms that are breastfeeding; they're able to pump extra, giving each other milk."
Fighting inflation
While some are able to find help, others like Meisenheimer still struggle to find a specialized formula. When that specialized formula is found, the prices continue to rise. That, combined with continued inflation, has caused many Utahns to struggle financially.
"We're living from paycheck to paycheck now and we don't qualify for any help. It doesn't make sense to me. I am unable to work right now. I have four kids under the age of 7," said Meisenheimer. "We barely are making it by. For them to just keep raising everything — I'm not even paying my mortgage right now. I'm just taking the hit on my credit because I can't pay it. It's feeding my kids or pay my mortgage."
Meisenheimer isn't alone. Ginette Bott, CEO of the Utah Food Bank, said that many Utahns were hit hard by the pandemic and once more by inflation.
Many first-time users of our services through the pandemic surfaced. ... We had hoped when the pandemic ended, these families could get back on their feet. All of a sudden inflation starts to set in. And now groceries, gasoline, utilities, affordable housing — all those things that were expensive before are even more expensive now.
–Ginette Bott, Utah Food Bank
"Many first-time users of our services through the pandemic surfaced. Those people are still struggling. Anytime you get behind on it — use an example of a house payment or a car payment — it takes a long time to catch up," said Bott. "We had hoped when the pandemic ended, these families could get back on their feet. All of a sudden inflation starts to set in. And now groceries, gasoline, utilities, affordable housing — all those things that were expensive before are even more expensive now."
While there is no set date on when the formula shortage will end, FDA officials say they're working to address the problem. In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said it's working on supply chain issues and with manufacturers to produce safe formula.
"We recognize that many consumers have been unable to access infant formula and critical medical foods they are accustomed to using and are frustrated by their inability to do so. We are doing everything in our power to ensure there is adequate product available where and when they need it," said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.
Until the issue is resolved, Geilmann-Parke emphasized the importance of FDA-approved products.
"Things like cow's milk or over-diluted formula, or even homemade formula mixtures put babies at risk. And these practices can lead to undernourished, iron-deficient babies and can result in death," she said. "So we want to make sure that customers, patients, families, moms, everyone is looking to reliable sources as best they possibly can."
Correction: An earlier version incorrectly reported Meisenheimer's infant as a 7-month-old.
