The Biden administration's "Operation Fly Formula" program will bring in two million cans — equivalent to 3.7 million eight-ounce bottles — of Kendamil-brand baby formula from the United Kingdom next week, the White House said Wednesday.
According to CNN, two additional planeloads of formula — carrying 250,000 cans manufactured by Bubs Australia — will be sent from Australia on June 9 and 11.
"We would hope that at least some of the retail [stores] will have our products within days of landing," Bubs CEO Kristy Carr said.
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The formula shortage became dire after Abbott Laboratories — a major player in the formula business — recalled three powdered formula brands and had a manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan, shut down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February due to potential bacterial infections.
"Nationally, 23 percent of powdered baby formula was out of stock in the week ended May 22," a report from The Wall Street Journal notes. Out-of-stock rates were particularly high in southern and southwestern states, including Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Kansas, and Utah.
Biden, who met virtually with formula manufacturers on Wednesday, said that he first "became aware of this problem in early April." The RNC shared the clip on Twitter, slamming the president for not mentioning the formula shortage until May 13.
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