Sen. Cramer, Colleagues Demand FDA Explanation on Failures that Caused Baby Formula Shortages

Press Release

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) in demanding answers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding its inadequate investigation into Abbott Nutrition's Michigan manufacturing facility and failure to mitigate the nationwide baby formula shortage. The senators are also seeking answers regarding when the White House was made aware of the dire situation and the steps available to limit the harmful impact on families and their newborns.

The senators stressed the desperation felt by families with infant children and expressed frustration in the lack of urgent action to resolve this crisis in a new letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D.

"Infant formula supplies at local grocery stores were relatively stable for the first half of 2021. The out-of-stock percentage started to climb steadily in the later half and continued to worsen throughout this year. It's concerning that FDA and key officials in the Administration did not anticipate this crisis or take action within days following Abbott Nutrition's voluntary recall considering the company holds 48.1 percent of the U.S. market in infant formula. Families are getting to the brink of pursuing unsafe and potentially dangerous options to feed their infants including homemade infant formula. And physicians are, once again, running defense on misinformation due to a lack of federal action to get the word out on safe alternatives," wrote the senators.

Joining Senators Cramer, Marshall, and Capito are Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Mike Braun (R-IN), John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), John Boozman (R-AR), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), James Lankford (R-OK), Steve Daines (R-MT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Roy Blunt (R-MO), and John Kennedy (R-LA).

Click here to read the letter.

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