Apr. 24—Stores nationwide have experienced shortages of baby formula in recent months, with many initiating a limit on how many formula packages can be purchased at one time.
The shortage has been widely attributed to a recall of baby formula in mid-February, according to a spokesperson with Mead Johnson Nutrition in Evansville, Indiana, a manufacturing company that produces "Enfamil" baby formula.
The recall was from Abbott, which released an announcement Feb. 17 stating that the company would recall powder formula products manufactured in its facility in Sturgis, Michigan, which include Similac, Alimentum and EleCare.
Stores limiting purchases of baby formula include CVS Pharmacy, Kroger, Target, Walgreens and Walmart.
"We continue to closely monitor the industry-wide supply constraints of baby formula to help ensure product is available for our guests," said a spokesperson with Target. "We currently have some online product limitations in place."
CVS and Walgreens, similarly, have announced a limit of three baby formula products per purchase in stores and online.
"Following supplier challenges and increased customer demand, we've added a limit," a spokesperson with CVS said. "We're continuing to work with our baby formula vendors to address this issue, and we regret any inconvenience this causes our customers."
Walmart and Kroger did not respond to a request for comment.
The supply shortage has also created challenges for local health departments throughout Kentucky, which supply formula for families who are WIC recipients, according to Merritt Bates-Thomas, public information officer for the Green River District Health Department.
The WIC program, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, according to the USDA, serves to safeguard the health of low-income pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, including breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care.
"It's been very challenging," Bates-Thomas said. "Anytime there's a disruption in what we're providing, it can create problems for the program participants."
The health department has not only continued providing formula products for WIC recipients, but has also worked to do package exchanges for those who were in possession of recalled formulas, which has been even more challenging, she said, with a shortage of supply for baby formula products.