Is Canada facing a baby formula shortage? Here’s what you should know
Global News
The shutdown of Abbott’s production plant in Michigan on top of supply chain problems amid the pandemic is impacting baby formula supplies for some retailers in Canada.
A massive safety recall of baby formula in the United States is having an impact on Canadian supplies, retailers say. But Canadian parents can breathe easy — for now.
While supply chain problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted supplies over the past year, a recent shutdown of a major production facility in Michigan has made the situation worse, Canadian retailers say.
In February, Abbott recalled several major brands and shut down its Sturgis, Mich., factory when federal officials concluded four babies suffered bacterial infections after consuming powdered infant formula from the facility. Two of the infants died.
The closure has left American parents scrambling to find baby formula. But the same level of shortages has not been seen in Canada yet.
“Some retailers are reporting that the strong majority of this section (baby formula) within their stores is stocked,” said Michelle Wasylyshen, national spokeswoman for Retail Council Canada.
According to Wasylyshen, retailers say that formula supply has been an ongoing issue since mid-2021, but it has gotten “considerably worse” since the Abbott recall and the closure of its largest formula manufacturing plant in the U.S.
“Abbott is still not shipping any SKU (stock keeping unit) that was impacted by the recall,” she told Global News in an email on Tuesday.
“Specialized formula SKUs that do not have substitutions have been impacted for the past nine months.”