MINOT — Some things a person can get by without, especially if only for a week or two, but baby formula? That's another matter entirely, yet a shortage of baby formula is exactly what is happening in Minot and throughout the nation.
Mothers and fathers of infants are finding that a quick run to their favorite store for much needed baby formula often results in discovering those shelves to be empty. Nationwide the shortage of baby formula is estimated to be in excess of 40%, and the situation is not expected to improve for two months or more. That leaves parents with a dilemma of what to feed their infants, many of whom require a special formula that is suddenly unavailable.
The Dakotan contacted Minot grocers who normally have good supplies of infant formula on their shelves but are now having difficulty keeping up with demand. One grocer described the situation as “very tough.”
Grocery wholesaler SpartanNash of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a supplier of infant formula for Minot stores, thanked The Dakotan for making an inquiry, but replied only that “we don’t have a statement to share at this time.”
A contributing factor to the shortage was the shutting down of an Abbott Nutrition plant, a maker of infant formula, after reports of infants becoming sick from using their product. Abbott Nutrition says they expect to be able to resume production at their Michigan facility within two weeks if they receive FDA approval. Abbott Nutrition brands include Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare.
