SULLIVAN COUNTY –– The child formula shortage has Sullivan County pantries and programs concerned.

It has been widely reported that the formula shortage is mainly caused by Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall of formula shortage after two babies died and four babies were hospitalized with bacterial illnesses in February.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) attributes these illnesses to Abbott’s formulas (Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare); although, Abbott released a statement on May 16 that said their investigation of their factory in Michigan did not find any link between the rare bacterial infections the babies suffered from and the formula and factory.

The production of formula has been largely shut down at the company’s factory in Sturgis, Michigan while the investigation occurred. Abbott Nutrition is one of the biggest formula manufacturers in the country.

In addition to the recall, supply chain problems and formula hoarding caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has made this shortage worse causing families to panic about where they can get formula to feed their infants.

Local concerns

Annette Rein, the director of 1st Way Life Center in Monticello, New York, told the Democrat about a grandmother who called the center looking for formula for her six-month-old granddaughter. Rein said it was heartbreaking to hear the grandmother be so panicked to find a specific type of formula. The six-month-old suffered many allergies and was even hospitalized before the correct formula was found.

Rein also noted that many mothers are not getting “real, solid answers” about what to do or what they can substitute formula for. She also noted that mothers’ confidence levels to feed their children has been affected especially since many families are unwilling to try something different when they find something that works for their infants.

Rein told the Democrat that she was in support of focusing on alternatives to formula and natural methods of feeding such as breastfeeding; although, there is backlash to those statements. Rein noted that they have been getting through the shortage through donations “and doing the best [she] can,” and said that she often relies on other food pantries such as Pastor Debra Villanueva’s pantry in Liberty.

Villanueva told the Democrat that she had started her non-profit organization, DAV Ministries, Inc in 2006, but started the pantry right before the pandemic began. Every week, she provides food, hygiene products, pet food, and other items to anyone in need, but on May 26, she decided to address the formula shortage and hold a pantry day for baby items.

She said that she was planning to give out items for premature babies and sick children. Some items included formulas, cereals, jar food, diapers, wipes and more to approximately thirty mothers in need. She also said anyone was welcome to participate, and food would also be distributed.

Villanueva said that she has been allowed to order only one case of formula at a time, and she goes wherever she can to find formula and other items. She noted that in addition to the formula shortage, it has become very expensive to run a pantry with inflation.

Villanueva stated that her pantry was eligible for grants, and it is relatively well funded, but she sees other pantries struggling to meet the demand. She said she typically connects with other programs, WIC, and social media, and she would “continue [her] mission” even if she had to “pay out of pocket” to help in anyway she can.

Seeing families “shaking, crying,” and “having a nervous breakdown” to get the formula they need motivated her to extend her focus more to the formula crisis.

Healthy Families

Patricia Bennett, Program Manager of Healthy Families of Sullivan from Public Health, says that the supplies are limited in Sullivan County, and the emergency formula bank the program keeps has been depleted.

She said that the program has been using local pantries and food banks as a resource to help address the demand. Bennett said that she is “concerned that it doesn’t get worse,” and Sullivan County is “feeling the crunch,” but the shortage is not as sensationalized as some in the media portray.

Bennett and the program advocate for breastfeeding to feed children, but she noted that not everyone has that option. She said the program receives formula donations from pediatricians, food pantries and has two lactation counselors for breastfeeding mothers and donations have been reduced.

Bennett recommended that families not try to make their own formula as some formula cannot be substituted. In this respect, the shortage is really affecting families with infants that have allergies or sensitivities the most, Bennett said. Families with this issue should contact their pediatrician or try to get their formula from medical supply or by prescription.

Healthy Families of Sullivan offers a wide variety of services for families with infants until preschool. For more information on the program or to join, www.healthyfamiliesny.org offers a map of all programs, Bennett said.

In the May 16 Press Release from Abbott, they stated that they have reached an agreement with the FDA to resume production, but it would take approximately six to eight weeks for products to become available.

President Joe Biden’s Administration has also arranged shipments from FDA approved countries and is signing laws to increase access to formula to address the crisis.