Shopping for formula? You’ve likely spied some empty shelves in your quest to stock up for baby. Like everything else since the pandemic, baby formula is now suffering the effects of supply chain issues.
There is in fact a formula shortage––to the tune of 31% of products being out of stock this month, according to Datasembly, a retail software company. In addition to higher demand, the industry is still trying to recover from the Abbott recall that sent thousands of cans of formula to the trash, many of which were speciality formulas like Similac, Alimentum and EleCare.
According to The Guardian, the hardest hit states (with 40%+ out-of-stock percentages) have been Minnesota, Connecticut, Hawaii, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Texas.
Plagued by months of formula shortages, retailers are now instituting purchase limits that are trying to help the masses, but frustrating many parents who are fearful of not getting the speciality formulas their babies need. If you’re a formula-feeding parent, you’ve likely spent a decent amount of time figuring out the best one that works for your baby. Finding empty shelves is especially scary.
Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail in New York shares in an email to The Washington Post, “Baby formula is still available in some shops, but supply is very patchy and out of stocks arise very quickly. Unfortunately, shortages encourage some people to buy in bulk and hoard, which further contributes to availability issues. This is why some retailers have put in place quantity restrictions.”
According to The Washington Post, Walgreens and CVS have limited formula purchases to three per transaction online and in stores. Target has put a cap on online purchases to four maximum and Costco’s website only allows two per order. The Wall Street Journal is reporting more restrictions at other retailers as well, such as Walmart’s five-per-day rule.
Brian Dittmeier, senior director of public policy at the National WIC Association shared in an email, “We are particularly concerned about risky practices that can jeopardize an infant’s growth and development.” As parents wait for the supply chain issues to resolve, be sure to talk to your pediatrician before making any major dietary changes for your baby.
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