The first batch of baby formula from Europe arrived in the United States on Sunday under the Biden administration's "Operation Fly Formula" program that aims to address the shortage of the product in the country.
From Germany's Ramstein Air Base to Indiana, military planes delivered a consignment of three formula brands, the equivalent of up to half a million 8-ounce bottles. As per a report from ABC News, the shipment included Nestlé Health Science Alfamino Infant and Alfamino Junior, as well as Gerber Good Start Extensive HA.
All of the shipments are hypoallergenic formulas for children who are allergic to cow's milk protein.
Earlier, the Department of Agriculture said there will be "additional flights" to be announced in the next few days.
According to White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, the process to transport such product from Europe to the US "would take two weeks".
"Thanks to Operation Fly Formula, we cut that down to approximately three days," Jean-Pierre said.
This shipment of 70,000 pounds of imported infant formula that landed in Indianapolis is the first of many expected to arrive in the U.S. in the weeks to come.
"Folks, I'm excited to tell you that the first flight from Operation Fly Formula is loaded up with more than 70,000 pounds of infant formula and about to land in Indiana," President Joe Biden tweeted. "Our team is working around the clock to get safe formula to everyone who needs it,"
Another Batch of Imported Infant Formula To Arrive This Week
Meanwhile, CNBC reported FedEx Express has been awarded a government contract to deliver another batch of baby formula to the US on Wednesday.
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Nestlé infant formula will be flown from Germany's Ramstein Air Base to Dulles International Airport near Washington, D.C., where it will be delivered to a Nestlé factory in Pennsylvania. The amount of formula to be carried by plane is undisclosed as of present reporting.
The measure is intended to solve a significant shortage of baby formula in the United States.
We're working to make sure safe baby formula gets to all who need it by:
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 19, 2022
- Invoking the Defense Production Act to increase domestic production
- Launching Operation Fly Formula to use federal planes to fly formula in from abroad
What Caused The Shortage?
Last week, Biden signed legislation to improve low-income families access to infant formula.
During times of crisis, the Access to Baby Formula Act of 2022 assures that families can use benefits from the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to buy formula supplies beyond what is generally allotted for the program.
WIC purchases over half of all newborn formula in the United States, with 1.2 million babies getting formula under the program.
Typically, each state relies on a single producer to supply WIC members with supplies. However, a recall by Abbott Laboratories, one of the country's major manufacturers, exposed weaknesses in the federal feeding program.
Abbott shut down a manufacturing site in Sturgis, Michigan, in February after recalling infant formula products following a government investigation into four newborns who suffered bacterial infections from the formula, two of whom died. Though, Abbott claimed there is no relationship between the company's formula and the illnesses, as per The Guardian.
According to Dr. Christopher Duggan, head of the Boston Children's Hospital's Center for Nutrition, baby formula supply was already being impacted by the pandemic issues, but the Michigan facility closure certainly aggravated the situation.
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