A general view of the Abbott Healthcare Nutrition plant in Cootehill Co Monaghan. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images)
The production of the EleCare formula came to a standstill at Abbott’s Michigan plant due to severe flooding in the area, and the company officially stated that the production of the new formula would be started in a few weeks.
The company also stated that there were power outages and flood damage throughout the area due to severe thunderstorms and heavy rains. These torrential thunderstorms brought significant rain in a short time, overwhelming Sturgis’ stormwater system, Mich., and causing flooding in areas of the city, including our plant.
This resulted in the stoppage of production of EleCare formula, which was on its way to check the damage caused by the storm and sanitize the plant. Abbot affirmed that they would take special consideration to conducting testing with other independent third parties. After that, they will resume safe production for EleCare production, and it will be followed by specialty and metabolic formulas.
Dr. Robert Califf of US Food and Drug Administration Commissioner stated in a series of tweets that Abbott is currently working on analyzing the damage, and they will be reporting its progress. The company is also in the procedure of drafting a plant, and once it is dispatched FDA will be working further to produce safe and quality formula products quickly.
Plants shut for months
After an FDA inspection, Cronobacter Sakazakii bacteria was found in the plant. These bacteria can cause infant death and have been closed down since then. The plant’s Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare powdered infant formulations were recalled. This caused the supply chain disruptions that caused shortages. For months, families across the United States struggled to find a formula for their infants or those with special nutritional needs.
Califf also suggested that the plant needed severe extensive repairs, which included replacing of roof and floors. Also, in a Senate meeting, he pointed out that the inspection showed the bacteria was growing all over the place,
In May, an agreement between FDA and Abbott was signed by a federal judge, which instructed the company to restart the production. Califf called the latest closure of the plant an unfortunate setback and reminded us that severe weather events could cause supply chain disruptions.
Serious work on formula supply
Abbott assured that they have a good supply of EleCare and its specialty metabolic formulas to meet the existing need till the new products are available. These kinds of products are delivered to families with the help of health care professionals.
There have been efforts to make other types of formula more readily available. President Joe Biden used the Defense Production Act as a directive to formula suppliers to prioritize delivery to formula manufacturers. The administration also launched Operation Fly Formula, which allowed for the import of formula from overseas.
On Wednesday, Califf tweeted that his teams were working tirelessly to make formula accessible. He stated that Abbott exceeded the formula production in 2021, even though the Michigan facility was closed. Other producers are producing formulas at “higher-than-average rates.”
This showed that the amount of formula was available long before the Sturgis plant was in production. However, shelves at many grocery stores are still empty. According to Information Resources Incorporated or IRI, about 25% of infant formula products are still out of stock in the United States.
The White House frequently cites IRI data as a way to gauge the severity and extent of the shortage. Recent data show that 24% of infant formulation products were out-of-stock during the week ending June 12. This is an increase of 22% from the week prior.
Prior to the nationwide recall of infant formula by Abbott in February of this year, approximately 10% of infant formulation products were usually out of stock.
