FDA Commissioner: Infant Formula Shortages Could Begin to Ease ‘Within Days’

Dr. Robert Califf gathers his documents as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pension adjourn a hearing on the nomination of Califf to be commissioner of Food and Drug Administration on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Dec. 14, 2021. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo

The head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) told a House committee that baby formula shortages will start to ease in the coming days.

FDA Commissioner Robert Califf told the panel that the shortage would improve “within days,” adding that “we have sold—we have had more infant formula bought by between 11 and 19 percent than what was bought in the month” before an Abbott Laboratories factory was shut down in Sturgis, Michigan.

“It will gradually get better. You know the big problem we have right now is distribution,” Califf said, adding that “within days it will get better. But it will be a few weeks before we’re back to normal.” He appeared in front of the House Appropriations subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies.

Earlier this week, Abbott said it came to an agreement with the FDA to reopen the Michigan plant. Some have blamed the closure of the facility, which was shut down amid an investigation into an alleged bacterial contamination at the site, on the shortage.

“I am pleased to say we’ve made very significant progress” in opening the plant, Califf said, adding that “we are on track to get it open within the next week to two weeks, most likely at the outbound two weeks.”

However, Abbott said in a news release last week that it will take up to 10 weeks before products made at the reopened facility will reach shelves across the United States.

Califf made his remarks amid grilling from lawmakers for his agency’s handling of the investigation into the Michigan plant.

“It all begs the question of why did the FDA not spring into action?” Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) asked the commissioner. “Why did it take four months to pull this formula off the shelf? How many more illnesses and deaths were caused due to the FDA’s slow response?”

The Sturgis plant was investigated in connection to reports of at least four infants contracting a type of bacteria, leading to two deaths. Abbott, however, said that the bacteria hasn’t been detected in the formula, and there is no evidence connecting its products to illnesses in infants.

Califf’s appearance comes about a day after the House of Representatives passed a $28 million emergency funding bill for the FDA to address infant formula supply concerns. The Biden administration also announced it would attempt to boost supply, including using the Defense Production Act.

Another step that is being taken includes the easing of restrictions on importing certain types of baby formula, the FDA also said.