The first two years of a baby’s life are essential in terms of nutrition.
Food shortage is expected in the developing world and not in affluent countries.
The recent baby formula shortage in the United States
Food is an essential component of life since it contains vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates necessary for human organism. The World Health Organization states that the first 24 months of a child’s life are critical in terms of feeding and nutrition to ensure optimal development of the baby (Al Mamun 2). Although it would be unthinkable to have a food shortage in the developed countries in the twenty-first century, these circumstances occur in the modern world. For example, the United States has recently faced the problem of a baby formula shortage.
Abbot Laboratories announced the recall of powder formula for babies.
Similac, EleCare, and Alimentum were withdrawn.
The reason was that some children fell ill and two died after being fed with it.
The manufacturing process in all companies dropped since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Parents are afraid to switch to other formulas to avoid adverse reactions in their infants and toddlers.
The shortage of baby food started to arise in Walmart and Target when Abbot Laboratories announced that they planned to recall their product. Specifically, the foods under the label of EleCare, Alimentum, and Similac were removed from shelves. The company decided to withdraw powder formula for infants after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed cases of adverse reactions and mortality events in children fed by this product (Telford). Moreover, the manufacturing process of baby food in all American companies has diminished significantly since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis (Telford). Since switching to another type of nutrition can have negative consequences for children’s health, parents are concerned about purchasing other brands. Hence, they desperately try to find this powder in other stores or online.
What should parents do in this situation?
Recommendations for parents:
- Not to panic and avoid purchasing withdrawn products because it was reported to be contaminated.
- Consult their healthcare providers.
- Try breastfeeding or whole milk if not contraindicated.
- Switch to solid foods in babies after the age of 6 months.
In this situation, the primary concerning question is what should parents do to ensure their children receive adequate nutrition? Firstly, it is crucial not to panic and avoid purchasing the withdrawn product in online stores because the company reported the presence of a contaminating agent in those formulas (Telford). The second recommendation is to discuss this issue with your child’s pediatrician or family physician and ask about the healthy ways to alter your infant’s feeding method (Telford). Moreover, if there are no contraindications for the mother and child, the infant can be breastfed or given whole milk (Al Mamun 5). Mothers could be recommended not to breastfeed if they have an infectious disease that can be transmitted through breastmilk. Furthermore, some children may have food sensitivity; hence, infants and toddlers should not consume specific foods they are intolerant to. Another recommendation is that children older than six months of age can be gradually transferred to solid food (Al Mamun 5). Overall, it is essential for parents, in this case, to remain calm, avoid the contaminated product, and collaborate with health practitioners to find the best approach to resolve this issue.
Works Cited
Al Mamun, Md Abdullah, et al. “Child Feeding Practices of Childbearing Mothers and Their Household Food Insecurity in a Coastal Region of Bangladesh.” The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, vol. 59, 2022, pp. 1-12.
Telford, Taylor. “Baby Formula Shortage Strains Families, Forces Stores to Ration.” The Washington Post, 2022.