Abbott Nutrition has reopened its baby formula plant in Michigan after suspended production in mid-June exacerbated the nationwide baby formula shortage.
The facility resumed production of EleCare, a specialty formula for infants with digestive problems and severe allergies, after a factory reboot on July 1, a spokesman for the company told NBC in a report published Sunday. Abbott plans to restart reproduction on other formulas, such as Similac, in the coming weeks.
ABBOTT BABY FORMULA PLANT FLOODS IN MICHIGAN, HALTING PRODUCTION FOR ‘WEEKS’
“We are working to restart Similac production as soon as we can,” Abbott spokesman John Koval said. “We’ll provide more information when we have it.”
Last month, the facility closed after severe thunderstorms and heavy rains flooded parts of the formula plant located in Sturgis, Michigan.
Abbott had resumed its operations in early June after the Michigan plant closed in February due to concerns of contamination, exacerbating a nationwide baby formula shortage that sent parents scrambling to find formula online and across state lines. The plant was shut down by the Food and Drug Administration after it received complaints of infants falling ill with bacterial infections after consuming formula made in the plant.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The closure worsened an already-strained supply chain, prompting the Biden administration to invoke the Defense Production Act to prioritize domestic baby formula production, airlift formula from European countries, and ease restrictions on import rules for foreign manufacturers.
