Tess Frear worked with mothers who were already in financial difficulties. Many of them are single parents and come from economically disadvantaged homes. Sometimes they escape domestic violence, sometimes they are as young as 15.
It was difficult enough for these mothers to just get basic necessities like diapers and clothing. Then there was the shortage of baby formula.
Frear, executive director at Helping Mamas, Knoxville, Tenn., stated that “there’s definitely desperation.” What will they do?
Three months have passed since Abbott Nutrition issued a voluntary recall for powder formula made at a Michigan manufacturing plant. This further stresses pandemic-related strains within the supply chain and has led to more desperate measures. According to Datasembly, one month ago, the national average out-of stock rate was around 40%. This rate jumped to 73.6% for the week ended May 28.
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It is felt everywhere. The average U.S. out-of-stock rate was 6% last year. The shelves of stores were almost full at all times. Datasembly reports that not one state had fallen below 45% by the end of May. The rate was increasing towards 95% in states like Arizona, California and Georgia. All around you, shelves seem almost empty.
Some people find the crisis particularly difficult. Although most infants will receive formula at one point in their first year of life, many parents who are low-income or come from communities of color rely on it most.
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A majority of formula sold in the United States is purchased through federally funded food assistance programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC). According to the National WIC Association, WIC families purchase between 50% and 65%. The group claims that this is enough formula to feed approximately 1.2 million infants.
Brian Dittmeier (senior director of public policy, National WIC Association) stated that “this crisis, which is really a manufacturing sector failure has impacted all parents formula-fed infants but it magnifies existing disparities.” He said that formula search has to some extent become a full time job and low-income families who are already working two jobs may not have the resources to invest fully in the search.
The shortage has also highlighted the sometimes stark disparities in breastfeeding rates by race. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, infants should be exclusively breastfed for six months. Then they can start breastfeeding and then introduce complementary foods for 12 months. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while Asian American mothers breastfeed more than 90%, and white mothers breastfeed more than 85% of their babies, Black mothers only breastfeed less than 74%.
Some areas have lower rates. According to the CDC, Arkansas and Mississippi have less than 53% of Black mothers who breastfeed their babies at birth.
There are many reasons mothers turn to formula. For example, some mothers turn to formula after experiencing problems with latching or lactation. It might be necessary because of an illness in the mother or baby that makes it difficult to breastfeed.
Experts say that the formula shortage is not only a problem, but also highlights structural barriers that prevent millions of mothers from breastfeeding. According to the CDC, only 51% of employers provide a lactation room on-site for breastfeeding mothers.
Others parents may not have paid family leave. Many mothers breastfeed at lower rates than women who have more generous leave policies. A study published in Health Equity last year found that 33% of Black women were paid no leave pay, while 25% of Hispanic women did not receive any. The rates for Asian American women were 13% and 10%, respectively.
People are asking, “Why don’t they breastfeed?” “People are saying, “Why don’t they breastfeed?” Well, it could be that they can’t breastfeed at work or in another circumstance. Frear said that there are many reasons people can’t breastfeed.
The Defense Production Act was invoked by the Biden administration last month to increase domestic infant formula production. The White House also attempted to import additional formula bottles from overseas in order to increase domestic production. More are expected to arrive over the next few days. Although the Abbott plant that was the subject of the recall will reopen in the next few days for production, it may take six to eight more weeks before formula from this plant can be available on grocery shelves.
Frear stated that she and her network will continue to work as hard as they can to get the formula for as many parents as possible. It’s not easy work. There are many formulas on the market. Many of the children they serve may have specific health needs that require a particular product.
Sometimes, the organization can find it through a follower on Facebook or Instagram. If they are unable to track it down, they will help match a mother with a nutritionist or pediatrician to find a temporary solution.
Frear said, “We just take it day by day.” “Each day, we keep moving forward and try our best to help these families become the best they can be.”
