Scott, Marshall, Capito Demand FDA Explanation on Failures that Caused Baby Formula Shortages

WASHINGTON – In a new letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D., U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) demanded answers regarding the FDA’s inadequate investigation into Abbott Nutrition’s Michigan manufacturing facility and failure to mitigate the nationwide baby formula shortage. The senators also requested information regarding when the White House was made aware of the dire situation and the steps available to limit the harmful impact on families and their newborns.

“Infant formula supplies at local grocery stores were relatively stable for the first half of 2021. The out-of-stock percentage started to climb steadily in the later half and continued to worsen throughout this year,” the senators wrote. “It’s concerning that FDA and key officials in the Administration did not anticipate this crisis or take action within days following Abbott Nutrition’s voluntary recall considering the company holds 48.1 percent of the U.S. market in infant formula. Families are getting to the brink of pursuing unsafe and potentially dangerous options to feed their infants including homemade infant formula. And physicians are, once again, running defense on misinformation due to a lack of federal action to get the word out on safe alternatives.”

Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Thune (R-S.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), and John Kennedy (R-La.) also signed the letter.

Click here for full text of the senators’ letter.

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