US allows import of 2 million cans of baby formula from UK

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is relaxing the regulations that allow imports baby powdered milk from England.

The FDA says it is “exercising discretion” to allow UK-based Kendal Nutricare to import certain products into the US. baby formula milk under the brand name Kendamil. This milk is guaranteed for safety or nutrition after evaluation.

“In connection with the importation of certain infant formula products, the company initially estimated that approximately 2 million cans of the formula were expected to arrive and be available on store shelves in the U.S. starting March. 6,” Kendal Nutricare said in a statement.

Kendal Nutricare has 40,000 cans of baby formula in stock for immediate dispatch. And the US Department of Health and Human Services is working to get this milk to the US as soon as possible, the FDA said.

The United States is experiencing one of the biggest baby formula shortages in recent history after Abbott in February recalled several products including Similac and closed a manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan. .

Abbott, America’s largest baby formula maker, has closed its milk plant after reports of bacterial infections in four infants. This is exacerbating milk shortages while many producers experience supply chain problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FDA said it will allow about 300,000 cans of Abbott’s EleCare amino acid-based formula to be sold to children who urgently need it. EleCare milk was previously made at the factory in Sturgis but is not subject to the recall.

Abbott plans to restart production at the facility on June 4, it said in a statement, and prioritizes EleCare production, which delivers on or around June 20. Abbott said it will provide free formula to children in need.

The administration of President Joe Biden has sought to alleviate a shortage of baby formula by urgently importing milk from Europe, the first flight of which arrived in the US earlier this week. President Biden invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act to help increase supply.

On May 24, the FDA said it is in discussions with other manufacturers about supplemental milk supplies and will prioritize products that are proven safe, nutritionally complete, and available in large quantities.

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