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    Alaska mom says baby formula shortage ‘creating extra panic’ as she launches group for struggling parents

    Baby formula shortage ‘devastating’ for parents

    Allie Seckel, a certified infant feeding technician in Kodiak, Alaska, tells Fox News Digital about her Formula Exchange Group on Facebook, which she launched in January to help parents amid the baby formula shortage.

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    As parents across the nation struggle with the ongoing baby formula shortage, a certified infant feeding technician in Alaska is lending a hand through a social media group as the dilemma grows more concerning and many shelves remain bare.

    Allie Seckel, the mother of a 10-month-old in Kodiak, Alaska, launched the Formula Exchange Group on Facebook in January when the baby formula shortage was just beginning. 

    AMERICA’S BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE: PHOTOS SHOW THE REALITY

    “It was something I had noticed,” Seckel told Fox News Digital. “Certain formulas here and there were starting to be a little bit harder to find. But I definitely did not anticipate it to be the extent it’s at now.”

    Parents affected by shortage are ‘in tears’ at the store

    The baby formula shortage began with ongoing supply chain issues — and escalated due to recalls by formula manufacturer Abbott Laboratories, FOX Business previously reported. 

    MARYLAND MOM OF 4 KIDS, INCLUDING 10-MONTH-OLD TWINS, IS DESPERATE FOR BABY FORMULA

    The recalls followed the deaths of two infants who reportedly consumed formula made at the company’s plant in Sturgis, Michigan.

    Allie Seckel is a certified infant feeding technician and a formula feeding consultant who spoke to Fox News Digital about the baby formula shortage. She’s pictured here with her 10-month-old daughter. (Allie Seckel)

    In a recent statement to FOX Business, Abbott Laboratories said, “A thorough review of all available data indicates that the infant formula produced at our Sturgis facility is not likely the source of infection in the reported cases and that there was not an outbreak caused by products from the facility.”

    Major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS have limited purchases of formula in some cases, yet many parents are panic-buying.

    Major retailers such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS have limited the purchases of formula in some cases, yet many parents are panic-buying. In this May 2022 photo, a Target in Long Island, N.Y., shows empty formula shelves.  (Nicole Pelletiere/Fox News Digital)

    Seckel said she’s also seen “misinformation” about formulas being discontinued or recalled.

    “It’s creating extra panic on top of an already stressful situation,” Seckel said. “It’s just a mess.”

    “To think that there are people that will take advantage of the situation is pretty mind-blowing, but [scamming is] absolutely happening.”

    For many parents, the situation is “devastating,” Seckel said, particularly for parents of infants who need specialty or hypoallergenic formulas.

    “They’re breaking down,” Seckel said. “They’re in tears in the grocery aisle.”

    Although she feeds formula to her 10-month-old daughter, Seckel said the shortage hasn’t been a problem for her family because of where they live. 

    Allie Seckel of Alaska is shown here; meanwhile, empty formula shelves at a store in Long Island, N.Y., are shown at right. (Allie Seckel/Fox News Digital)

    “Areas [in Alaska] that are remote seem to actually be less affected,” Seckel said. 

    “So we’ve been fortunate that we’re not too badly affected here [in Kodiak].”

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE: WHICH TECHNIQUES BOOST BREAST MILK PRODUCTION?

    Seckel said she’s heard that other major cities in her state like Anchorage and Juneau have been experiencing the shortage just like the rest of the U.S.

    Helping parents feed their babies

    Seckel, a formula feeding consultant, runs a Facebook page called The Formula Fairy, which offers information, resources and support for parents who feed formula to their infants. 

    Seckel launched the page last August because “there’s a pretty serious lack of information and resources for formula parents.”

    Allie Seckel runs the Formula Exchange Group on Facebook, where parents can buy and sell formula during the shortage.  (Allie Seckel)

    Since the shortage, Seckel’s job has gotten busy. 

    Right now she’s offering free resources to parents who are looking for alternatives to their baby’s current formula.

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE SENDS TENNESSEE MOM OF 8-MONTH-OLD INTO A ‘PANIC’: ‘I BROKE DOWN’

    When she launched the Formula Exchange Group, Seckel made separate posts for every kind of formula. 

    In the comments section of each post, parents can say if they need formula for their infants, or if they have extra formula that they’re willing to sell to other parents.

    “I wanted to come up with some sort of system that made it a little easier to manage, rather than posts all over the place.”

    “There are a lot of different formula buy-sell groups on Facebook … but a lot of them seem kind of unorganized and chaotic,” Seckel said.

    “I wanted to come up with some sort of system that made it a little easier to manage, rather than posts all over the place.”

    The public Facebook group, which didn’t get much attention early on, has grown to 4,500 members.

    “I’ve had quite a few folks reach out saying that they were able to get formula, some that are actually really hard to find right now,” Seckel said. 

    While parents may be scrambling for formula to feed their children, experts and government agencies such as the USDA and CDC still caution against accepting donations from unknown sources. 

    Although Seckel feeds formula to her 10-month-old daughter, the Alaska mom said the shortage hasn’t been a problem for her family so far because of their location. (Allie Seckel)

    The reason is improperly stored formulas could potentially cause more harm than good.

    “Unused, returned infant formula may have been inappropriately stored (e.g., exposed to extremely high temperatures), may be past its use-by-date, or subjected to tampering (e.g., labels or use-by dates changed),” the USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service wrote in a WIC Policy Memorandum. 

    Improperly stored formulas could potentially cause more harm than good.

    “Some of these conditions can cause products to lose nutrients, impact the product’s safety and potentially threaten the health of recipients.”

    Seckel acknowledged that formulas should only be bought from trustworthy, reputable manufacturers from within America. 

    A mostly empty baby formula section is pictured here at a Walgreen’s in Westchester County, N.Y., during the second week of May 2022.  (Fox News Digital)

    “Typically it’s not recommended to import formula from other countries or buy from Facebook groups, third party sellers etc. since there is no guarantee that the formula is safe, was stored properly and isn’t contaminated,” she said. 

    “But in these desperate times when parents are unable to find formula anywhere locally to them, it comes down to choosing a less ideal alternative or not feeding their babies — and feeding babies has to come first,” Seckel said, while suggesting parents coordinate with friends or family to ship formula to them.

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE: KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS STRESSFUL DRAMA

    Seckel offered tips to stay safe if parents believe that buying formula through Facebook groups is their only option amid the ongoing shortage.

    If sending baby formula to someone by mail …

    1. Make sure the formula is not expired and has not been recalled.

    2. Package the formula very carefully so that the cans don’t become dented.

    3. Use overnight or priority two-day shipping to prevent long shipping times at extreme temperatures.

    Stores in the Twin Cities area are struggling to keep baby formula in supply. Seen here in a recent photo are shelves in the baby feeding aisle with limited stock. (Fox News)

    If receiving baby formula from someone …

    1. Bring the package inside your home ASAP (again, so it’s not exposed to extreme temperatures).

    2. Make sure the formula is sealed — and that it’s not expired, not recalled and not dented.

    3. Make sure the formula looks, smells and feels “normally.” If anything seems off at all, don’t use it.

    4. Try to receive formula only from someone you know personally and trust.

    “When there’s no alternative, I think it’s important to educate parents on ways to reduce risk and help keep their babies safe when ordering online,” Seckel noted.

    More parents are speaking out as the baby formula shortage crisis affects Americans in 2022. A Target in Long Island, N.Y., shows starkly empty formula shelves in the baby and toddler aisle of the store.  (Nicole Pelletiere/Fox News Digital)

    If parents still decide to buy formula online from strangers, Seckel said scammers pose another challenge.

    These scammers promise to send formula to paying parents — only to leave them empty-handed, Seckel said. 

    “It’s horrible to see,” Seckel said. “We’re talking about feeding infants and they’re desperate [and] doing anything they can.”

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    “To think that there are people that will take advantage of the situation is pretty mind-blowing, but it’s absolutely happening,” she added.

    Seckel said parents have been using PayPal’s Goods and Services feature — or similar features on other platforms — which offers fraud protection for buyers.

    Seckel said if a seller is unwilling to use the Goods and Services feature, parents should be cautious. 

    She also suggested checking out any profiles of potential sellers to make sure they seem legit; in addition, she said checking other formula exchange groups and pages to see if the seller has been reported for scamming somewhere else makes sense.

    Call the pediatrician for samples and alternatives

    When it comes to actually finding formula, Seckel said parents should call their pediatrician and ask for formula samples and alternatives, especially parents of infants who need hypoallergenic formulas.

    Baby formula is offered for sale at a big box store on Jan. 13, 2022, in Chicago, Illinois. Baby formula has been in short supply in many stores around the country for several months.  (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    “There are quite a few [alternatives] for like babies that require hypoallergenic formulas, but they’re usually options that you’re going to need pediatrician approval [to use],” Seckel said.

    Seckel also recommended checking different Facebook groups like hers and reaching out to food banks, women’s shelters and local nonprofits who might have formula.

    “Whatever you do, don’t make homemade formula.”

    “Talking to store managers is another huge one,” Seckel said. “They can be really helpful [in] letting people know when to expect things or if it’s going to be a long time before they can expect it again.”

    If it’s available and your baby is able to tolerate the change, Seckel also suggested switching infants to a more accessible formula, either between brands or from a name brand to a generic brand. 

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    There are also formula subscription services such as ByHeart and Bobbie, though Seckel said they tend to be more expensive and some aren’t accepting new subscribers at the moment.

    The one thing parents should not do is make their own formula, Seckel said, echoing the advice of pediatricians. 

    “It’s really dangerous,” Seckel said. “[Babies] require a very specific set of nutrients that are impossible to replicate at home.”

    “That’s really the most important thing,” Seckel added. “Whatever you do, don’t make homemade formula.”

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    Fox News’ Cortney Moore and Fox Business’ Jon Brown and Breck Dumas contributed reporting to this article. 

    Maryland mom of 4 kids, including 10-month-old twins, is desperate for baby formula

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    A Maryland mom of four children, including 10-month-old twins, is having a heck of a time finding baby formula for her little ones — and she’s really, really angry at the Biden administration right now.

    Kayla Zurenko and her husband, Cody, of Calvert County, Maryland, have four children — 7-year-old Gavin, 5-year-old Grayson and 10-month-old twins named Gabriella and Gannon. 

    “Where am I going to find formula?”

    “I have enough formula for two babies for 14 days,” she told Fox News Digital about her current supply. “Where am I going to find formula after that?” she added, becoming upset as she spoke. 

    The couple live about an hour south of Washington, D.C. 

    Husband Cody works for Tesla, while Kayla has been a stay-at-home parent since giving birth to their twins last June. The couple enjoy watching their oldest child play baseball; Kayla Zurenko volunteers at the boys’ school as much as possible.  

    The Zurenko children of Maryland; the older boys are 7 and 5, while the twins are 10 months old.  (Zurenko Family)

    But now, Zurenko has found herself with a new full-time job that she never applied for: searching for baby formula to buy for her children.

    She’s been searching for baby formula in her tri-state area of Maryland, D.C. and Virginia and in recent days has found nothing, literally nothing, she told Fox News Digital in a phone interview this week.

    BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE SENDS TENNESSEE MOM INTO A ‘PANIC’: ‘I BROKE DOWN’

    It wasn’t until after she ordered baby formula online — then received notice that those orders had been canceled — that she took to social media to vent her frustration.

    “This has GOT to be addressed!!!!” Zurenko wrote recently, exasperated. “Raise the gas prices, inflate the food [prices], but give our babies the food they NEED!!!!”

    Kayla Zurenko with her four children — she’s holding her infant twins. “This has GOT to be addressed,” she wrote with exasperation on social media about America’s baby formula shortage. (Zurenko Family)

    “I shouldn’t have to search a tri-STATE area for baby formula,” she added, “and STILL not find any!”

    “My online orders are being canceled, stores are out, with no end in sight,” she also wrote. “This should be TOP priority immediately for every government agency and this joke of an administration! THIS IS SCARY!”   

    In January 2022, Kayla Zurenko came down with COVID-19.

    Up until January, Zurenko had been breastfeeding her twins. 

    She was not familiar with the baby formula shortages that other parents and caregivers had been facing until she couldn’t breastfeed her babies any longer. 

    N.C. FOOD BANK DESCRIBES ‘DEFINITE’ IMPACT OF BABY FOOD SHORTAGE

    That’s because, in January, she came down with COVID-19.

    The Zurenko twins of Maryland. Their parents are searching everywhere to find enough baby formula to feed them.  (Zurenko Family)

    Once she tested positive for the coronavirus, her husband began hunting for baby formula to feed their infants — to no avail. But still, they did not realize the challenges up ahead.

    “I sent him for a curbside order and the order got canceled,” Zurenko told Fox News Digital.

    “We did a curbside order [from] a Target, and he was able to get that one. Then he brought it home and we were fine,” Zurenko said. 

    “And then after four days, I went back to breastfeeding when my milk supply came back up. But I realized that it just never came back to a sustainable level after we had COVID.” 

    Cody and Kayla Zurenko are pictured here. “I just kind of hit a breaking point [this week],” said Kayla Zurenko. “I got really upset … and I was scared.” (Zurenko family)

    Now, Zurenko and her family have joined many American parents in the desperate and ongoing quest for baby formula. And it is clearly taking a toll. 

    During an interview on Tuesday afternoon, Kayla Zurenko broke down in tears. She told Fox News Digital that she feels she is in survival mode to feed her babies.  

    “Is this how it’s looking every single morning when I wake up?”

    “I have enough formula for two babies for 14 days,” she said about her current supply. “Where am I going to find formula after that?” she added, her upset turning to anger.

    “Is this how it’s looking every single morning when I wake up? I just kind of hit a breaking point [on Monday], and I got really upset and I was pissed off. And I was scared.” 

    The Zurenkos with their two oldest, shortly before their twins were born.  (Zurenko Family)

    Zurenko said she’s asked family members in Alabama and in Washington State — plus her stepmom in Florida — to keep checking local stores to see if they have any baby formula and, if so, to ship it to the family. 

    KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS THEIR DRAMATIC SEARCH FOR BABY FORMULA

    In the meantime, she and her sister-in-law, Casey, are stopping at any Target, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS — “no matter where we are” — to try to find formula. 

    “Formula is fundamental for all of us moms who don’t have a choice in the matter.”

    Zurenko also maps out stores for her husband during his workday, just in case there might be formula available on store shelves during his drive to and from work.  

    Yet even if the formula is in stock at certain retailers, supplies per person are often limited.

    One of the Zurenko twins. Mom Kayla Zurenko said she goes into stores, shows pictures of her infant twins to the clerks or managers, and tells them, “Look, I really have two babies.” (Zurenko Family)

    Retailers such as CVS and Walgreens are placing purchase limits on baby formula. 

    Target also has some online product limitations in place. The Minneapolis-based retailer told FOX Business it is closely monitoring the industry-wide supply constraints and working to ensure the product is available. 

    BABY FORMULA PURCHASES ARE LIMITED AT STORES ACROSS U.S.

    “I have to show them pictures of my twins,” Zurenko said, referring to the stores she visits. “I’m like, ‘Look, I really have two babies.’”

    She said she understands the store limits, “but then I feel guilty for essentially hoarding formula. At the same time, it’s terrifying,” she added — referring to the thought of not being able to feed her babies.

    ‘We’re going to have babies that are malnourished’ 

    Zurenko compared today’s baby formula shortage to what happened in the U.S. amid COVID. “It’s going back to the toilet paper shortage, where everybody just started hoarding toilet paper,” she said.

    “Formula is fundamental for all of us moms who don’t have a choice in the matter. And we’re going to have babies that are malnourished.” 

    One of the Zurenko family’s twins. “Gas is overpriced” right now, said Kayla Zurenko. “But it’s available — that is the difference.” (Zurenko Family)

    Everybody’s arguing about gas prices, she said. “And everybody’s arguing about inflation — but at least food and gas are available,” she added. “Gas is way too high and it’s overpriced. But it’s available — that is the difference.” 

    This mom added, “I would almost rather the formula be available and the prices inflated, like everything else in the country right now.”

    PARENTS SEARCH FRANTICALLY FOR HOMEMADE RECIPES FOR BABY FORMULA

    “You know, if we didn’t have gas,” she said, “I bet you the administration or the government or government agencies would be jumping in to fight that battle.”

    “At least if you have no gas, you just sit at home. If you don’t have formula — babies are going to die or be malnourished.” 

    She referenced work that the Ford Motor Company has done in the production of materials to help stop the spread of COVID. (As early as April 2020, Ford said it shipped out 1 million face shields to protect health care workers struggling to find protective equipment, FOX Business reported on April 6, 2020.)

    “That is the kind of outpouring of support and outreach that I believe needs to be taken into consideration with this formula shortage right now,” Zurenko said of those emergency efforts. 

    This spring 2022 image of an almost-zero supply of baby formula at a Target in Upper St. Clair, Penn., tells the story: American families can’t find enough baby formula for their infants right now.  (Fox News Digital)

    “Because it’s worse than having no gas,” she said. “At least if you have no gas, you just sit at home. If you don’t have formula — babies are going to die or be malnourished.” 

    The current baby formula shortage in the U.S. started with COVID-19 supply chain issues. 

    “I just sincerely hope this crisis can be handled with more urgency very soon!”

    Several months ago the situation grew more serious once Abbott Laboratories issued a recall of its Similac product, after reports that a bacterial infection caused two infant deaths, according to earlier reporting by FOX Business. 

    The baby formula shortage in America has scores of parents searching high and low — and online — for enough food to feed their infants.  (The Bleck Family)

    In six different states — Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee — over half the baby formula was sold out during the week starting Sunday, April 24, said Datasembly, a Virginia-based provider of real-time product pricing and assortment data for retailers, as Fox News reported previously. 

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    Kayla Zurenko told Fox News Digital on Tuesday afternoon about the situation, “I just sincerely hope this crisis can be handled with more urgency very soon!”

    Baby formula shortage sends Tennessee mom of 8-month-old into a ‘panic’: ‘I broke down’

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    Wynter Balthrop is the mother of Blakely, an eight-month-old baby girl in Gallatin, Tennessee, which is about 30 miles north Nashville.

    Balthrop is worried about the baby formula shortage across the country right now, she told Fox News Digital. 

    Little Blakely is on Enfamil’s Nutramigen formula — which is a hypoallergenic variety. Nutramigen was and is the only formula that her baby is able to tolerate, Wynter Balthrop told Fox News Digital this weekend. 

    “We went to six different stores and searched and called multiple others as far as three hours away from us.”

    A generic brand has made her baby sick.

    Balthrop said that just recently, she and her husband “went to six different stores and searched and called multiple others as far as three hours away from us — and we were not able to find one can or bottle of her formula.”

    Baby Blakely of Tennessee, with mom Wynter Balthrop. “It just wasn’t fair to her,” said Balthrop, referring to a type of baby formula she was forced to give her daughter when the family couldn’t find the child’s hypoallergenic variety.  (Balthrop Family)

    “I broke down in the car,” she said. 

    “[I was] panicking and sad for my girl because we had enough formula left to make one bottle — and I knew we would have to use the generic formula that hurt her stomach again. And that broke my heart.” 

    “I mean, it just wasn’t fair to her,” said Balthrop. “But we had no other options.”

    “I knew we would have to use the generic formula that hurt her stomach again. And that broke my heart.”

    Grocery-store shelves that once held an abundance of baby formula are now empty, or very nearly so, at many locations across America. 

    In six different states — Iowa, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Tennessee — over half the baby formula was sold out during the week starting Sunday, April 24, said Datasembly, a Tysons, Virginia-based provider of real-time product pricing and assortment data for retailers. 

    N.C. FOOD BANK DESCRIBES ‘DEFINITE’ IMPACT OF BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE

    “Inflation, supply chain shortages and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” said founder and CEO Ben Reich in a statement. 

    “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions. Baby formula stock … has been one of the more affected categories so far in 2022, and one that will continue to demonstrate higher than average out-of-stock levels,” he also said.

    Mom Wynter Balthrop (at right), with her husband and baby daughter. “We had no other options” for formula, she told Fox News Digital.   (Jessica Hamblen Huff (Life Through a Lens)/Wynter Balthrop)

    “Thankfully,” said Balthrop, “we were able to find three bottles of ready-to-feed formula in stock at a store a few towns over the next morning — so I rushed to get it.”

    Background on today’s baby formula shortage

    The current baby formula shortage in the U.S. started with COVID-19 supply chain issues. But things escalated several months ago once Abbott Laboratories issued a recall of its Similac product, after reports that a bacterial infection caused two infant deaths, according to previous reporting by FOX Business. 

    Abbott voluntarily recalled one lot of Similac PM 60/40 manufactured in Sturgis, Michigan, on Feb. 28. This is in addition to other voluntary recalls of lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare powder formulas on Feb. 17, according to a company press release.

    Baby formula is offered for sale at a big box store on Jan. 13, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. Baby formula has been in short supply in many stores around the country for several months now.  (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

    Wynter Balthrop of Tennessee has begun stockpiling formula to get them through her baby’s first birthday — she doesn’t see any other way. 

    “We are now grabbing every can or ready-to-feed bottle we see,” said Balthrop, “while also trying not to be greedy and leave some for others.”

    “I’ve seen the fear in their eyes [over] the empty shelves at stores.”

    Balthrop said it breaks her heart for those “mamas who aren’t so lucky and for those moms on supplemental programs such as WIC,” referring to the government’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.

    She added that those moms are limited in where they can shop because they struggle to afford their child’s formula. She has friends on WIC, she said. 

    “I’ve seen the fear in their eyes [over] the empty shelves at stores, praying that they find [formula] at the next store they go to,” she added.  

    Baby Blakely of Gallatin, Tenn. “My heart breaks for all the mamas out there suffering and panicked from this [baby formula] shortage,” said mom Wynter Balthrop to Fox News Digital.   (Jessica Hamblen Huff (Life Through a Lens); Wynter Balthrop)

    She added, “It’s sad that in today’s world, this is an issue we are having. My heart breaks for all the mamas out there suffering and panicked from this shortage.”

    With many parents desperate to feed their babies, social media posts have been circulating about how to prepare homemade formulas or requests for such recipes. 

    PEDIATRICIAN’S PLEA TO PARENTS: DO NOT MAKE YOUR OWN BABY FORMULA

    But pediatricians and other infant-care specialists warn parents and caregivers against this. 

    They first recommend that moms breastfeed for as long as possible — but beyond that, they share important information and advice. 

    Pediatricians have their say

    Among the tips that Sarah Adams, M.D., FAAP, a pediatrician at Akron Children’s Hospital in Akron, Ohio, shared with Fox News Digital on the topic of baby formula are the following:

    Avoid hoarding. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advises buying no more than a 10-day to 2-week supply of formula.

    Two cans of baby formula are shown here in a home. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says parents should not hoard supplies.  (Fox News Digital)

    Call the doctor. “Call your pediatrician’s office and ask if they can get you a can [of formula] from the local formula representatives,” she said.

    Check with local charities. They might have supplies they can share. 

    KENTUCKY FAMILY REVEALS STRESSFUL SEARCH FOR BABY FORMULA

    Buy formula online. Do make sure, however, urged Dr. Adams, “to purchase from well-recognized distributors and pharmacies and NOT from individually sold [operations], auction sites or overseas!” 

    ‘Homemade formulas can have contaminates’

    “The answer to parents giving homemade formula to their babies is NO! It is very dangerous,” Dr. Meg Meeker, a longtime pediatrician, author and creator of the “Parenting Great Kids” podcast, also told Fox News Digital on this issue.

    Amid today’s baby formula shortage, some families have described their “panic” and desperation in finding what they need for their infants.  (The Bleck Family)

    “We know a lot about this because many years ago parents used to make it — but babies got very sick.” 

    She added, “Homemade formulas can have contaminates because they haven’t been properly handled. But more important problems relate to poor nutrition,” she said.

    PARENTS SEARCH FRANTICALLY FOR HOMEMADE BABY FORMULA

    The FDA weighed in on the issue as well. 

    To the question, “Are homemade formulas an alternative” for parents, the FDA answers clearly on its website today: “No. The FDA advises parents and caregivers not to make or feed homemade formula to infants. Homemade infant formula recipes have not been evaluated by the FDA and may lack nutrients vital to an infant’s growth.”

    “I hope and pray daily this shortage gets resolved soon and quickly for the sake of all of the formula-fed babes out there!”

    Also, last year in a press release, the agency said, “The FDA has recently received adverse event reports of hospitalized infants suffering from hypocalcemia (low calcium) that had been fed homemade infant formula.”

    It said there are potential problems with homemade formulas, including contamination and/or “inadequate amounts of critical nutrients” for babies.

    Said Balthrop of Tennessee, “I hope and pray daily this shortage gets resolved soon and quickly for the sake of all the formula-fed babes out there!”

    As of just yesterday — Mother’s Day — Balthrop shared this update with Fox News Digital: “I am still having issues finding formula. I’ve been checking the stores almost daily and haven’t found one [can] of [the baby’s] formula this past week, which is wild!”

    She also said that a Facebook group in her area has been started so that moms can exchange the latest information about formula availability, store details and more.

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    Maureen Mackey of Fox News Digital contributed reporting to this article.  

    Is your baby formula making your infant sick? Signs to watch for

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    The recent baby formula recall by Abbott Nutrition understandably has parents concerned about the health of their babies. One pediatrician told Fox News he has expanded his emergency room hospital examination screenings to include asking parents of sick infants, what type of formula does the baby use?

    Dr. Matthew Harris, a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Northwell Health in New Hyde Park N.Y., told Fox News that there are certain symptoms to look for in infants who may have become sick after consuming the recalled lot of reportedly contaminated powdered baby formula.

    Close-up of bottles of Similac brand pro sensitive infant or baby formula, Lafayette, California, September 30, 2021. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

    “Parents should be on the lookout for fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, or yellowing of the eyes or skin if their children are drinking these formulas, but once again we should caution parents that these are rare and Abbott has taken appropriate steps in minimizing the risk,” Harris told Fox News.  

    As Fox News reported, Abbott Nutrition expanded its voluntary baby formula recall this week to include one lot of Similac PM 60/40 formula, after learning that an infant died who had “consumed Similac PM 60/40 from this lot” but that the cause of the infection “has not been determined.”  

    ABBOTT NUTRITION’S BABY FORMULA RECALL WIDENS AFTER ANOTHER INFANT DIES

    Harris told Fox News, this formula is specifically for children who are at high risk for nutrition, who have difficulty absorbing nutrients and is commonly used in premature children. 

    The Similac PM 60/40 lot was manufactured in a Sturgis, Michigan facility, the same facility where three other powdered infant formulas: Similac, Alimentum and EleCare that were recalled last month, were produced, the Food and Drug Administration said in a report on their website. The formulas were recalled after the agency received reports of infants getting sick after consuming the formula, the FDA said. 

    According to the FDA, so far there have been four reports of Cronobacter sakazakii infections in infants and one case of Salmonella Newport. The health agency said on its website, the illnesses resulted in hospitalization and “Cronobacter may have contributed to death in two patients.”

    Abbott Divisional Vice President of Nutrition Global Research and Development Dr. Hakim Bouzamondo speaks during a keynote address by Abbott Chairman of the Board and CEO Robert B. Ford at CES 2022 at The Venetian Las Vegas on January 6, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

    Cronobacter sakazakiim is a particularly nasty gram-negative infection which is a type of severe bacterial infection,” Harris told Fox News in an interview and added, “There have been also cases of salmonella which is a more common bacterial infection that typically causes a diarrheal illness sometimes with fever in all sorts of children and infants.” 

    Health experts said in some cases, cronobacter bacteria could cause life-threatening infections such as sepsis or meningitis. Harris said in the interview, if you think your child is sick, seek medical help and discuss any concerns with your pediatrician.

    PRODUCT RECALLS PUBLISHED BABY TEETHERS SOLD AT TARGET, OTHER STORES RECALLED DUE TO CHOKING HAZARD

    Harris, who is also a father of an infant, told Fox News it was very difficult in the previous months to obtain regular formula due to global shipping issues and that this recent recall, while appropriate, can be quite crippling to parents of newborns, especially those of deprived socioeconomic need.

    A biologist uses a Cell-Dyn 3200 analyzer, manufactured by Abbott Laboratories, to test blood samples in the medical laboratory of the Casa di Cura San Feliciano hospital in  Rome, Italy, on Monday, July 23, 2012.  (Photographer: Alessia Pierdomenico/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

    Abbott initiated the first voluntary recall on Feb. 17. The company said it tests for pathogens in its manufacturing facilities routinely and “found evidence of Cronobacter sakazakii in the plant in non-product contact areas” at the Michigan facility.  

    CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

    Abbott said on its website, its distributed product has not tested positive for the presence of Cronobacter sakazakii and that product samples of the recalled Similac PM 60/40 lot also recently tested negative for the bacteria. The company also stated on the site that it did not find evidence of salmonella Newport however the investigation is ongoing. 

    To find out if you have a recalled formula lot click here.

    Supplement facing recall over unapproved, ‘possibly unsafe’ additive

    Two dietary supplements are facing a recall, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website this week. 

    In a notice posted to the FDA’s website on Monday, Fusion Health and Vitality LLC said all of its 2020 lots of Core Essential Nutrients and of Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 are subject to the recall, each for different reasons.

    This product has been found to contain an unapproved food additive, hordenine HCl, per the FDA notice.
    (FDA)

    The first, the company’s Core Essential Nutrients supplement, was found to contain an unapproved food additive known as hordenine HCl.

    Hordenine HCl, according to the recall notice, “is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth. Hordenine HCl might have similar stimulant effects and side effects such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.” 

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONCERNS, FDA SAYS

    The Core Essential Nutrients supplement was first shipped on Jan. 2 of this year, per the notice. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become and unapproved new drug under FDA labeling laws,” per the notice.
    (FDA)

    The recall also affects the company’s Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 over a labeling issue. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become an unapproved new drug under FDA labeling law,” the notice reads. 

    CDC INVESTIGATES E. COLI OUTBREAK POTENTIALLY LINKED TO ROMAINE LETTUCE

    No adverse reactions related to either product have been reported to date, however. 

    “Fusion Health and Vitality is notifying its customers by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products,” the company said. “Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using it and return it to Fusion Health and Vitality for destruction.”

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER HIGH LEVELS OF MOLD BYPRODUCT: FDA

    Consumers with further questions can contact Fusion Health and Vitality at 1-888-964-5327. 

    Supplement facing recall over unapproved, ‘possibly unsafe’ additive

    Two dietary supplements are facing a recall, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website this week. 

    In a notice posted to the FDA’s website on Monday, Fusion Health and Vitality LLC said all of its 2020 lots of Core Essential Nutrients and of Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 are subject to the recall, each for different reasons.

    This product has been found to contain an unapproved food additive, hordenine HCl, per the FDA notice.
    (FDA)

    The first, the company’s Core Essential Nutrients supplement, was found to contain an unapproved food additive known as hordenine HCl.

    Hordenine HCl, according to the recall notice, “is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth. Hordenine HCl might have similar stimulant effects and side effects such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.” 

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONCERNS, FDA SAYS

    The Core Essential Nutrients supplement was first shipped on Jan. 2 of this year, per the notice. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become and unapproved new drug under FDA labeling laws,” per the notice.
    (FDA)

    The recall also affects the company’s Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 over a labeling issue. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become an unapproved new drug under FDA labeling law,” the notice reads. 

    CDC INVESTIGATES E. COLI OUTBREAK POTENTIALLY LINKED TO ROMAINE LETTUCE

    No adverse reactions related to either product have been reported to date, however. 

    “Fusion Health and Vitality is notifying its customers by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products,” the company said. “Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using it and return it to Fusion Health and Vitality for destruction.”

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER HIGH LEVELS OF MOLD BYPRODUCT: FDA

    Consumers with further questions can contact Fusion Health and Vitality at 1-888-964-5327. 

    Supplement facing recall over unapproved, ‘possibly unsafe’ additive

    Two dietary supplements are facing a recall, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website this week. 

    In a notice posted to the FDA’s website on Monday, Fusion Health and Vitality LLC said all of its 2020 lots of Core Essential Nutrients and of Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 are subject to the recall, each for different reasons.

    This product has been found to contain an unapproved food additive, hordenine HCl, per the FDA notice.
    (FDA)

    The first, the company’s Core Essential Nutrients supplement, was found to contain an unapproved food additive known as hordenine HCl.

    Hordenine HCl, according to the recall notice, “is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth. Hordenine HCl might have similar stimulant effects and side effects such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.” 

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONCERNS, FDA SAYS

    The Core Essential Nutrients supplement was first shipped on Jan. 2 of this year, per the notice. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become and unapproved new drug under FDA labeling laws,” per the notice.
    (FDA)

    The recall also affects the company’s Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 over a labeling issue. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become an unapproved new drug under FDA labeling law,” the notice reads. 

    CDC INVESTIGATES E. COLI OUTBREAK POTENTIALLY LINKED TO ROMAINE LETTUCE

    No adverse reactions related to either product have been reported to date, however. 

    “Fusion Health and Vitality is notifying its customers by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products,” the company said. “Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using it and return it to Fusion Health and Vitality for destruction.”

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER HIGH LEVELS OF MOLD BYPRODUCT: FDA

    Consumers with further questions can contact Fusion Health and Vitality at 1-888-964-5327. 

    Supplement facing recall over unapproved, ‘possibly unsafe’ additive

    Two dietary supplements are facing a recall, according to a notice posted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s website this week. 

    In a notice posted to the FDA’s website on Monday, Fusion Health and Vitality LLC said all of its 2020 lots of Core Essential Nutrients and of Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 are subject to the recall, each for different reasons.

    This product has been found to contain an unapproved food additive, hordenine HCl, per the FDA notice.
    (FDA)

    The first, the company’s Core Essential Nutrients supplement, was found to contain an unapproved food additive known as hordenine HCl.

    Hordenine HCl, according to the recall notice, “is possibly unsafe when taken by mouth. Hordenine HCl might have similar stimulant effects and side effects such as rapid heart rate and high blood pressure.” 

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER SALMONELLA CONCERNS, FDA SAYS

    The Core Essential Nutrients supplement was first shipped on Jan. 2 of this year, per the notice. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become and unapproved new drug under FDA labeling laws,” per the notice.
    (FDA)

    The recall also affects the company’s Immune Boost Sublingual Vitamin D3 over a labeling issue. 

    “Immune Boost Labeling was found to contain statements that caused it to become an unapproved new drug under FDA labeling law,” the notice reads. 

    CDC INVESTIGATES E. COLI OUTBREAK POTENTIALLY LINKED TO ROMAINE LETTUCE

    No adverse reactions related to either product have been reported to date, however. 

    “Fusion Health and Vitality is notifying its customers by email and is arranging for return of all recalled products,” the company said. “Consumers that have product which is being recalled should stop using it and return it to Fusion Health and Vitality for destruction.”

    DOG FOOD RECALLED OVER HIGH LEVELS OF MOLD BYPRODUCT: FDA

    Consumers with further questions can contact Fusion Health and Vitality at 1-888-964-5327. 

    Manufacturer recalling ‘subpotent’ thyroid tablets, adverse effects reported, FDA says

    A manufacturer is recalling thyroid tablets found to be subpotent and with adverse effects, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Acella Pharmaceuticals is recalling two lots of NP Thyroid, which “may have as low as 87% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine,” or less than the required amount, according to the company announcement posted by the FDA.

    Acella Pharmaceuticals is recalling two lots of NP Thyroid, which “may have as low as 87% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine,” or less than the required amount. (Photo courtesy of the FDA)

    (Photo courtesy of the FDA)

    CDC DELETES CORONAVIRUS AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION GUIDANCE, SAYS UPDATE WAS ‘DRAFT VERSION’

    The products may be too weak to fully treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and patients could experience fatigue, constipation, and slow heart rate, among other effects, said the announcement.

    There was also said to be a “reasonable risk of serious injury” for newborns and pregnant women with hypothyroidism.

    “In elderly patients and patients with underlying cardiac disease toxic cardiac manifestations of hyperthyroidism may occur, such as cardiac pain, palpitations or cardiac arrhythmia,” the announcement reads.

    “To date, Acella has received four reports of adverse events for these lot numbers possibly related to this recall,” it said.

    The products under the recall are in 100-count bottles; one lot of 15-mg and a second lot of 120-mg NP Thyroid, Thyroid Tablets. Those taking the medication were advised to contact their healthcare provider before stopping use.

    See more information about the recall here.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP

    Manufacturer recalling ‘subpotent’ thyroid tablets, adverse effects reported, FDA says

    A manufacturer is recalling thyroid tablets found to be subpotent and with adverse effects, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

    Acella Pharmaceuticals is recalling two lots of NP Thyroid, which “may have as low as 87% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine,” or less than the required amount, according to the company announcement posted by the FDA.

    Acella Pharmaceuticals is recalling two lots of NP Thyroid, which “may have as low as 87% of the labeled amount of levothyroxine,” or less than the required amount. (Photo courtesy of the FDA)

    (Photo courtesy of the FDA)

    CDC DELETES CORONAVIRUS AIRBORNE TRANSMISSION GUIDANCE, SAYS UPDATE WAS ‘DRAFT VERSION’

    The products may be too weak to fully treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), and patients could experience fatigue, constipation, and slow heart rate, among other effects, said the announcement.

    There was also said to be a “reasonable risk of serious injury” for newborns and pregnant women with hypothyroidism.

    “In elderly patients and patients with underlying cardiac disease toxic cardiac manifestations of hyperthyroidism may occur, such as cardiac pain, palpitations or cardiac arrhythmia,” the announcement reads.

    “To date, Acella has received four reports of adverse events for these lot numbers possibly related to this recall,” it said.

    The products under the recall are in 100-count bottles; one lot of 15-mg and a second lot of 120-mg NP Thyroid, Thyroid Tablets. Those taking the medication were advised to contact their healthcare provider before stopping use.

    See more information about the recall here.

    CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP