The United States has been experiencing a shortage of baby milk for several months, caused by supply and labor problems linked to Covid-19, and aggravated by the closure, in February, of a factory of the manufacturer Abbott in Michigan, for unsanitary conditions, which likely resulted in the deaths of two infants.
” We have let you down, we are deeply sorry “. The executive director of Abbott Nutrition was speaking yesterday before the US Congress at a hearing. ” VSit will take time to regain the trust of the families “, he added.
The crisis is such that President Joe Biden announced last week the establishment of an airlift and the use of a law dating from the Cold War to notably import milk from abroad. A first shipment arrived on Sunday containing more than 31 tons of the precious beverage.
The Sturgis plant is one of the largest infant formula plants in the United States, including specialty milks used for children with certain metabolic or allergic conditions.
“Bacterial Contamination”
It all started after the death of two infants, and a visit by the American drug agency the FDA to the Abbott factory in Michigan, one of the largest baby formula factories in the United States, the Inspection results were shocking, the FDA boss testified.
He noticed ” standing water in key equipment and significant potential for bacterial contamination “, from “ roof leaks » or the washing of the hands of the employees leaving something to be desired.
” We continue to believe that there is no conclusive evidence to link our products to childhood illnesses and deaths attributed to Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria, which was found in an area of Abbott’s plant in Sturgis, the Abbott executive said.