On Tuesday, a former official from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) informed U.S. lawmakers that over a year since a nationwide shortage that caused distress to parents trying to feed their children, the infant formula supply in the United States remains vulnerable to safety issues and supply disruptions.
During his testimony before a subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee, Frank Yiannas, the former deputy commissioner for food policy at the FDA, stated that he believes that the state of the infant formula industry today is very similar to what it was during the shortage. Yiannas, who played a significant role in the FDA’s response to the shortage before resigning earlier this year, made the remarks.
Yiannas further stated, “In simpler terms, the country is just one outbreak, tornado, flood, or cyberattack away from facing a situation similar to that of February 17, 2022.” On that day, the FDA initiated a nationwide recall of Abbott Nutrition’s widely used Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare infant formulas, resulting in a nationwide shortage. The recall occurred after several infants became ill with bacterial infections, leading to two deaths.
Yiannas expressed that the FDA was not prompt in taking action when concerns were raised about contamination at Abbott’s formula manufacturing facility in Sturgis, Michigan, which resulted in the closure of the plant for several months. This significantly reduced the supply of formula in the United States. Prior to the recall, Abbott had a firm grip on an estimated 40% of the nation’s baby formula market.
Yiannas emphasized that there were internal problems within the FDA that worsened the infant formula shortage. He highlighted issues with the agency’s structure and culture, its inability to properly oversee the food supply chain, and inadequate public health monitoring of the deadly bacteria, Cronobacter sakazakii, that he claimed contaminated Abbott’s formula.
In addition, Yiannas emphasized the need to address ongoing risks to the infant formula supply to prevent future crises. These include the need to renovate outdated manufacturing plants and the high degree of consolidation in the industry.