The US activated the “wartime act” to respond to the milk powder crisis

Besides inflation or high fuel prices, the shortage of infant formula is the next difficulty for many US consumers. The White House has just officially stepped in with the move to activate the “wartime act” to boost supply.

Accordingly, on May 18, US President Joe Biden officially signed the re-use of the Defense Production Act towards the powdered milk production sector. Having existed for the past seven decades, this law aims to centralize US manufacturing activities to respond to emergencies such as wars and epidemics.

US President Joe Biden said:Many parents across the United States are struggling to find infant formula for their children. As a father and grandfather, I understand this concern. Today, I activated the Defense Production Act, which allows powdered formula manufacturers to fully source ingredients to create quality and safe products for children.“.

America is facing a shortage of milk powder. (Source: Reuters).

The last time the law was activated was to promote the production of medical supplies and vaccines in the US during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the White House, this is an urgent step, as the situation of milk powder running out of store shelves is spreading, creating a burden for many American families.

“My baby is sick and can only use formula, but the lack of milk has been going on for months. We even had to travel across the country to get enough infant formula“, Jess Butler – a resident of Seattle, Washington, USA said.

With the new regulations, raw material suppliers will have to prioritize sources for the production of infant formula. The US military also deployed a campaign “Airlift milk powder”, chartered commercial aircraft to transport powdered milk from abroad to the US.

Journalist Zeke Miller – analyst, AP news said: “Previously, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had relaxed the conditions for imported infant formula. As a result, powdered milk from other countries such as Europe can soon be supplied, supplementing the domestic supply“.

US officials are also working to get a large Abbott milk powder factory in Michigan to reopen in the next few weeks, contributing to an early end to the current crisis.