Utah Department of Health gives update on formula shortage
May 24, 2022, 9:17 AM | Updated: May 25, 2022, 7:38 am
FILE: Nearly empty shelves of baby formula are pictured at a Reams in Sandy on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Photo credit: Kristin Murphy/Deseret News.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Department of Health took to Twitter Monday afternoon to say it is working to learn everything it can about when more baby formula will be available amid the shortage. In a series of tweets, the agency listed the information that it currently had available.
Formula availability
The Utah Department of Health said hypoallergenic formulas are some of the specialty formulas that have the lowest supply. Hypoallergenic formulas will be directed to hospitals, doctor’s offices and pharmacies.
For other formulas, the Utah Women, Infants and Children program was working with suppliers to get other baby formula brands distributed to Utah.
The agency said Utah WIC stores are prepared to receive and distribute the premixed formula Abbott is putting. Abbott is the manufacturer at the center of the formula shortage.
The agency said Abbott continues to “crank out” the premixed, ready-to-feed liquid formulas, and that those will be in Utah stores soon. A tweet within the Utah Health Department’s thread noted that Abbott had put out an apology through the Washington Post.
As for formulas on store shelves, the agency said it had “a lot of confidence” in the Similac formula that is stocked.
“If it’s in the store, it’s safe to consume, depending on your child’s needs,” the agency’s tweet read.
For parents navigating the formula shortage
In a May 19 Twitter thread, the agency offered advice and resources to parents impacted by the shortage including:
- Parents should work with their child’s healthcare provider to make a plan in order to safely meet their child’s nutritional needs.
- Parents who can’t find formula can visit the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services’ list of manufacturer hotlines.
- Parents can talk to an expert through Gerber’s MyGerber Baby Expert to find a similar formula that would work for their child.
The thread also offered guidance for parents wondering about using animal milk. Additional resources can be found in the agency’s thread.
