Abbott Nutrition, which closed its Michigan plant in February over contamination concerns and caused a nationwide powder shortage, said on Friday it plans to resume production of its staple formula, Similac.
With more formula production at its plant in Sturgis, Michigan, the company hopes to ease the shortages that parents across the country are rushing to feed their babies.
The shortage began earlier this year when pandemic-related supply chain issues led to shortages of formula ingredients and was exacerbated by troubles at a Michigan plant.
Abbott Chief Executive Officer Robert B. Ford said resuming production of Similac was an important step in getting the formulation back on the shelf.
“Creating infant formulas is a responsibility that we take very seriously and parents can feel confident in the quality and safety of Similac and other Abbott formulas. ‘ said Ford. said in a news release. “We are committed to restoring the trust that parents and healthcare providers have placed in us over the decades.”
The company said it will take about six weeks to start shipping the Similac product line, and resuming production at the plant after months of shutdowns will ensure the equipment is functioning properly. It adds that it is a “complicated process” for
The company warned that “occasional” stops and departures could occur.
In February, Abbott voluntarily recalled Batch of 3 formulas After the U.S. Food and Drug Administration received consumer complaints about bacteria that can cause serious, life-threatening infections or inflammation of the membranes that protect the brain and spine.
At least two of the four babies who were fed formula made at the Sturgis plant contracted bacterial infections and died. Abbott says there is no “conclusive evidence” linking the company’s formula to illness.
FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Calif told a House panel in May that the Sturgis plant had leaks from the roof, pooled water on the floor, cracks in production equipment, and bacterial infestation that persisted. said it was possible.
He described the situation as “grossly unsanitary” and admitted his agency should have acted more quickly to address the problem.
Abbott enters Consent Decree with the Government It helps us provide a new set of safety measures, such as hiring qualified professionals to oversee factory improvements and notifying the FDA if contamination is found.
By June, Abbott resumed EleCare production, but less than two weeks after production began, the plant was forced to close again after a severe storm flooded parts of the facility. Production of EleCare and other metabolic formulas will resume on July 1st, with shipments expected within the next few weeks.
Cronobacter sakazakii, a potentially dangerous bacterium, has also been found in several batches of formula since production resumed. It has not been distributed, nor has it been distributed.
After the initial closure, Abbott said it ramped up production at other manufacturing plants in the United States and one in Ireland. The company says he will deliver more than 8 million pounds of formula to the US in August, more than he produced last August.