Baby formula made from Australian goats and grass-fed cows flown to US to battle shortages
AP
- 1.2 million cans of formula made from goat and cow milk will be shipped from Australia, FDA said.
- The cans will be enough to make 27.5 million 8-ounce bottles.
- The FDA has increased flexibility on its rules to allow more baby formula to be imported.
The US is flying in millions of cans of baby formula made from Australian goat and grass-fed cow milk as the battle to combat shortages continues.
Bubs Australia will provide at least 1.25 million cans of several varieties of its infant formula, including Bubs Organic Grass Fed and Bubs Easy-digest Goat Milk, the Food and Drug Administration said.
The imports will be enough to make 27.5 million 8-ounce bottles. Some of the cans are ready to be shipped, while the FDA said more will be produced and sent in the coming weeks.
It follows increased flexibility outlined by the FDA to allow more imports of baby formula from other countries. The US usually produces 98% of the baby formula consumed in America.
"We continue to work around the clock with our government partners and industry to ensure there's adequate infant formula available," said FDA Commissioner Robert Califf.
"Steps like the one the agency is taking today means more infant formula will be available to parents and caregivers in the weeks and months ahead. We will not rest until our shelves are replete with safe and nutritious infant formula."
The move for increased flexibility follows historic shortages, with 40% of leading products out of stock and some paying $33 for a can, as wider supply chain shortages limit ingredient availability, exacerbated by a recall by maker Abbott over fears of babies becoming severely ill.
Last week, the makers of the baby formula used by the Royal Family said it would fly 100 truckloads-worth of formula to the US.
In recent weeks, parents have been resorting to more desperate measures, with harmful DIY formula recipes going viral on social media.