Graham County Health Department issued the following announcement on May 19.
The February recall of certain Abbott infant formulas increased the demand for other brands of formula, which has worsened the lingering effects of supply issues that arose during the pandemic nationwide.
For families struggling to find the formula they need, North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) has several recommendations, as well as four important reminders for families:
*Do NOT water down your baby’s formula to stretch it out, it can be extremely dangerous to your baby to do so.
*Do NOT try to make homemade formula or give your baby toddler formula before their first birthday, these can also be dangerous to your baby.
*If you can’t find formula or can’t find your baby’s specific formula, work with your child’s health care provider to determine the best feeding plan. For cow's milk-based formula, a comparable other brand, including generic or store brand, smaller manufacturer, or organic options are generally fine.
*Only buy formula from reputable retailers, not from unknown individuals, online resellers or from overseas. How formula is stored and shipped can impact its safety for your baby.
What can families do?
• Families can turn to community organizations, reputable online retailers, distributors, and manufacturers as sources for finding formula. Contact United Way’s 2-1-1 or dial 2-1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist affiliated with United Way who may be able to help you identify food pantries and other charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food. Certain milk banks accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America are distributing donated breast milk to mothers in need; please note that some may require a prescription from a medical professional.
• Families can contact manufacturers for help in finding formula:
o MyGerber Baby Expert
https://www.gerber.com/mygerber-baby-expert
o Abbott’s Consumer Hotline: call 1-800-986-8540 and urgent product request line https://abbottnutrition.com/metabolics
o Reckitt’s (Mead Johnson) Customer Service line: call 1-800 BABY-123 (222-9123)
•Women who are pregnant are encouraged to consult with a health care provider about breastfeeding their infant. Families feeding a baby with donor breast milk should only use milk from a source that has screened its milk donors and taken other precautions to ensure the safety of its milk, such as those accredited by the Human Milk Banking Association of North America. https://www.hmbana.org/
• If you see a formula price that seems too high, report it to the North Carolina Department of Justice by filing a complaint at https://ncdoj.gov/gouging or by calling 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.
• Families needing help with formula costs who have not applied for assistance are encouraged to learn more about the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) at https://www.nutritionnc.com/wic/ or apply for FNS (formerly known as food stamps) at https://epass.nc.gov.
Original source can be found here.
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