May 19, 2022 11:00 a.m.

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have joined a group of colleagues in urging President Biden to immediately assign a coordinator within the White House to work with manufacturers directly and oversee the development and implementation of a national strategy for increasing the resiliency of the infant formula supply chain and protecting against future contamination and shortages.

A release said the senators asked that the national strategy rapidly address immediate needs associated with the shortage. That includes identifying specific action steps and deadlines for addressing the shortage. Senators asked that it provide critical information to parents and caregivers, including where to find formula, how to transition from one formula to another, if needed, and what to do if a medical or specialty formula is unavailable.

The release said Wyden, Merkley and the other senators said they are encouraged by recent steps taken by the Food and Drug Administration to address the formula shortage, “But these steps alone are not enough, and the federal government needs to do more to get formula back on shelves as soon as possible and secure the supply chain of infant formula to prevent this type of crisis from happening again”.

The group said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has put an immense strain on parents and caregivers – and this shortage is only worsening the challenges families are facing. We need organized leadership and a clear plan for addressing this crisis. We cannot stop working on this issue until babies are fed”.

The full text of the letter is linked: https://www.help.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Signed%20Formula%20Letter_5.18.22.pdf