USDA to Temporarily Cover Full Cost of Alternate Baby Formulas for WIC Participants

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USDA Baby Formula Shortage Contracts Overview: 

• Who: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urges state agencies, Rickett Mead Johnson (RMJ) and Gerber to be flexible on their infant formula contracts. 
• Why: The USDA wants to help alleviate the baby formula shortage by having states contracted with RMJ and Gerber to all WIC participants to purchase alternate brands. 
• Where: The baby formula shortage is nationwide. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture asked state agencies, Rickett Mead Johnson (RMJ) and Gerber to consider being flexible with their baby formula contracts in the midst of the current shortage. 

With the temporary flexibility, WIC participants would be able to purchase alternate “sizes, forms or brands” of infant formula that would otherwise be unavailable to them, according to a USDA press release.  

“Responding to the infant formula shortage has been — and will continue to be — a team effort. We encourage states and their formula manufacturers to work together to maximize access to infant formula for WIC participants, and USDA will provide the funding to make that possible,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the release. 

The USDA said it will use funds through the newly signed Access to Baby Formula Act to cover any additional costs for alternate infant formulas that would otherwise be unavailable in states contracted with RMJ and Gerber. 

Abbott Nutrition covers the cost difference in states it contracts with, according to the USDA. 

“WIC families are depending on us for the vital nourishment their babies and children need to thrive. We cannot let them down,” Vilsack said in the press release. 

Abbott Contracts With About Half of U.S. States, USDA Says

The USDA estimates WIC participants under 12 months old consume about 56% of all infant formula in the United States and about half of U.S. states contract with Abbott. 

Abbott voluntarily recalled several of its baby formula products in February. 

While no Gerber or RMJ products were recalled, the USDA says states contracted with the two companies are starting to struggle with obtaining access to their typical supply of baby formula as Abbott’s manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, remains closed. 

Abbott’s Sturgis plant was closed in February as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted an investigation into the source of a contamination of salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii. 

Abbott reached an agreement with the FDA earlier this month to reopen the Sturgis plant and has a planned reopening date of June 4. 

Have you been affected by the current nationwide formula shortage? Let us know in the comments! 

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• Abbott Nutrition Reaches Deal With FDA To Reopen Baby Formula Plant Amid Shortage
• FDA Works To Increase Availability of Baby, Specialty Formulas Amid Abbott Investigation