May 17, 2022

Parents Should Be Confident Feeding Their Children

 

Arlington, VA – Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association welcomed the Biden administration’s announcement that an agreement has been reached with Abbott Nutrition to reopen its infant formula production facility in Sturgis, Michigan, following more than two months of suspended production and product recall. However, FMI asserts that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should also assure the American people that infant formula manufactured at the facility meets current food safety regulations, including the Food Safety Modernization Act, and will be safe for consumption once production resumes.   

FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin made the following statement:   

“FMI is pleased that after nearly three months of investigating the Sturgis facility, FDA and Abbott Nutrition have reached an agreement to reopen the facility for production of much-needed infant formulas. However, we urge the agency to clearly reassure consumers that Abbott has taken appropriate steps to come into compliance with food safety regulations and resume safe production so that consumer confidence in the safety of its products can be rebuilt.    

“As parents around the country can attest, and recent data from research firm IRI confirms, the plant closure and recall have significantly impacted the infant formula supply across the nation, with certain regions facing serious supply challenges. For example, powdered formula sales last month in the South Central United States are down 12.6% from a year ago, down 11.1% in the Mid South, and down 9.8% in the Plains region. These numbers drive home the struggles many families across the country have faced in ensuring their children remain healthy and fed.    

“We strongly encourage FDA to issue another public statement making clear that the Abbott Nutrition facility in Sturgis is in compliance with federal food safety standards and regulations, and that parents should be confident in feeding infant formula to their children. Doing so will give consumers greater confidence and help alleviate parents’ confusion regarding the safety of these products once production resumes. We look forward to continuing to work with FDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and our industry partners to ensure these products are safe and back on the shelves as quickly as possible. FMI members also need clear direction from FDA and Abbott via identifying marks or codes on the safe, newly produced infant formula containers.”