Kelly and Colleagues Push Manufacturers to Get Baby Formula on Store Shelves, Increase Production

Today, in the letter to Mardi Mountford, President of the Infant Nutrition Council of America, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly and 30 Senate colleagues urged infant formula manufacturers to take immediate action to increase their production of formula amid a nationwide shortage. Arizona is among one of the most impacted states. 

Over the past several months, due to supply chain issues and the massive recall following contaminated formula from Abbott Nutrition, a major supplier, it has become increasingly difficult for Arizona families to access infant formula. In the letter to the Infant Nutrition Council of America today, Kelly and his colleagues stressed how urgent the situation is for families, and pressed formula manufacturers to take action to increase infant formula production and distribution, and prevent future supply chain disruptions.

“We write to express our concern about the infant formula supply shortage which is making it harder for parents and caregivers nationwide to get their children the nourishment they need. Formula is a critical source of nutrition for newborns and infants, and this supply shortage has put their health and development at risk. We are calling on you and your member companies to take immediate action and ensure that infant formula manufacturers are making every effort to mitigate this dangerous shortage and get children the nourishment they need,” wrote Kelly and his colleagues.

“This shortage has placed an unacceptable burden on parents and caregivers and has put the health of babies and infants at risk. For many families, infant formula is critical for ensuring their children receive the nutrition they need to grow healthy and well-nourished” the letter continued “This shortage has been especially challenging for some of the most vulnerable infants, with particularly acute shortages of specialty formulas to address health needs such as allergies, gastrointestinal issues, or metabolic disorders. There is no easy substitute for infant formula, and this shortage has left families across the nation scrambling to figure out how they will safely care for their children,” continued Kelly and his colleagues. 

The letter was also signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Read the full text of the letter HERE.