Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: BABY FORMULA – Another Supply Chain Crisis

@SoDakCampaigns

BABY FORMULA – Another Supply Chain Crisis
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 13, 2022

Our moms and babies are facing a huge—and dangerous—problem. The nationwide baby formula supply out-of-stock level is 43%—but in South Dakota, our out-of-stock levels areover 50%. Store shelves are empty. Mothers are worried about being able to feed their babies.

Abbott Nutrition produces 43% of the market’s baby formula. Last September, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) became aware of contamination at Abbott Nutrition and subsequently received more consumer complaints through the end of 2021. But the FDA did not begin a follow-up inspection until January 31, 2022—a 44-day delay from the last complaint received.

It wasn’t until February 2022 that Abbott Nutrition voluntarily recalled their powdered baby formula. The negligence and slow responses by Abbott Nutrition and the FDA caused at least four cases of sickness, and unfortunately two of those cases are believed to have resulted in death. The FDA has been slow to kickstart supply again—requiring Abbott Nutrition’s baby formula to be evaluated and released on a case-by-case basis for two months. This is severely restricting formula supply to return to normal levels.

I sent a letter to the FDA demanding answers for their delay and lack of foresight in this situation. Federal agencies must increase transparency and accountability in their decisions. The FDA needs to answer to the American people why they let this problem get out of hand.

This is a pro-life issue, and my pro-life values continue beyond the womb. While I recently cosponsored two bills, the Heartbeat Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act to protect life in the womb, protecting life after birth is just as essential. Ensuring life means ensuring access to basic needs like formula. A supply shortage of this magnitude is dangerous.

Americans have faced supply chain crisis after supply chain crisis—enough is enough. We need answers & solutions from the FDA, and we need to provide for our nation’s babies.

###

20 thoughts on “Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: BABY FORMULA – Another Supply Chain Crisis”

  1. Quite possibly the formula is being diverted to the illegals flooding the border.

    1. No, it really isn’t. That’s just a Fox News talking point. Even if it were, I guess there goes your pro-life stance. I guess American babies are the only ones who deserve our help.

      1. I have seen “dick” posts before but yours wins hand down.

        (SHRUG) I am sure Pat is gentleman enough not to let this pass. but it least I got it off my mind.

  2. Looks like someone has been surfing facebook. 40 billion? It’s not like they are writing a check to Ukraine. No, they are paying American arms companies who employ Americans to produce weapons that will ultimately help American interests and we will be paid back 10x. Ukraine is going to be doing us favors for years which will save us a lot more than the 40 billion we invest now and we will help reduce Russian threats across the world. Did you not learn anything from WWII? There is a reason why no NATO country is going to stand by until they decide to invade Poland. You should look in the mirror because you are the only ignorant one in the room.

  3. What about voting for 40 billion blindly to Ukraine? Maybe we shouldn’t do that with these problems at home.

    1. More facebook propaganda. That 40 billion will go to American companies who employ Americans to create weapons. Its not a blank check like your fox news fear mongers are portraying it. We will get paid 10x in return when ukraine wins. We aren’t going to sit back and wait for things to escalate like we did in WW2. I’m all for helping our own but then you guys will scream socialism. Go back to the basement.

  4. What about all the Minnesotans (libs) moving into Sioux Falls? Their increase in numbers dilutes the tradition South Dakotan vote and seems almost to be coordinated to replace those SD voters with young progressives.

    1. Unfortunately for you, free travel between states is a feature and not a bug of the nation you live in.

    2. All the Minnesotans I see moving to our communities are displaying Trump flags so I wouldn’t get too worried. Generally, things are moving blue all over as the old and nasty continue to die off. The right now represents the crazy, Russian loving, anti-christian, white supremacists. They care more about owning the libs than doing anything productive.

        1. Well, at least you aren’t denying what your party represents. Very fine people.

  5. Interesting that the manufacturers of infant formulae are TERRIFIED that parents will discover they can make their own with evaporated milk and corn syrup, using the same recipe the baby boomers were fed which allowed them to survive epidemics of polio, measles and influenza without the benefits of vaccination .

    They even tell parents that cow’s milk is “bad” for babies and don’t want them to know that’s what their products are made out of. SMH.

    ICYMI: commercial baby formulae, with the exception of soy and other exotica, are made out of cow’s milk. It won’t hurt your kid. Your parents and grandparents are probably still alive to talk about it.

    1. I couldn’t agree more. Just more fear mongering from the right wing entertainment programming.

      1. Anne is a retired nurse of many years. I wouldn’t doubt a thing she says when it comes to medicine. She probably lived through events such as this.

        1. Covid showed us there are a lot of nurses out there who don’t believe in science.

        3. I personally survived polio in 1952, Influenza in 1957, and also measles, mumps, rubella and chicken pox. We didn’t have vaccines for any of those diseases at the time, so when people point out the higher infant mortality rates of the 50s, bear that in mind. We got sick a lot in those days, and those diseases killed children.

          In the 50s and 60s baby formula consisted of 20 ounces of boiled water, 2 tablespoons of corn syrup and one 13 ounce can of evaporated milk. That’s what the boomers were fed and most of us are still alive to talk about it.

          It is highly unlikely that pediatricians have ever read the ingredients listed on a can of Similac or Enfamil but if you told your child’s doctor “I’m going to feed him a formula made of skim milk, vegetable oil and fructose” he’d probably tell you that’s wrong and threaten to call CPS on you.

Comments are closed.