Many local stores, including local kosher supermarkets in Lakewood, are beginning to limit customer purchases of baby formula as the national shortage worsens.
The move comes as major supplier Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) has recalled some baby formula including Similac following complaints of bacterial infections in infants who consumed the products.
“We have no choice but to start limiting the amounts each family can purchase,” one major Lakewood supermarket told TLS.
Major retailers such as CVS and Walgreens are also limiting customer purchases.
Additionally, the prices in New Jersey for baby formula has skyrocketed to a 40% high, tops in the nation as a result of inflation.
Manufacturers say production is at full capacity, but they are unable to keep up with current demand. “Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” Datasembly founder and CEO Ben Reich said in a news release. “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions.”
In February, Abbott recalled certain lots of Similac, Alimentum and EleCare with expiration dates of April 1, 2022, or later. The product was distributed throughout the U.S. and overseas, the company said in a statement. The recall does not affect liquid infant formulas or any other Abbott products. The recall came amid four reports infants who were hospitalized after consuming the formula produced at the Sturgis facility, including two who died. The agency said one of the cases involved salmonella and three involved Cronobacter sakazakiim, a rare but dangerous germ that can cause blood infections and other serious complications.
The Abbott recall has been particularly hard-hitting for families who rely on public benefits such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) because the company was the exclusive supplier for more than half of the WIC agencies nationwide.
With Lakewood being the fastest-growing municipality in the State, a local store manager tells TLS his supplier could not even supply him with enough for one month of sales.
There’s kosher baby formula available on Amazon.
I have had success finding formula in areas with far smaller baby populations than Lakewood. While every store’s supplies are more limited, they still stock up, and with fewer consumers you may get lucky a buy few cans at a time.
In understand some have a hard time nursing physically, but others are just too busy and/or don’t understand the value. They can pump and freeze, and there are gemachim of ladies who pump and give out for people’s babies. Perhaps it’s time to get more involved in that.
Did you know that vital nutrients and even immunity go over through mother’s milk? The best formulas cannot duplicate that.
In the early 1900s, one of the reasons people got so many more diseases was because DOCTORS DISCOURAGED NURSING!!! This was in addition to the atrocious state of sanitation, water line and general nutrition (due to poverty). THAT is the reason more died of the various infectious diseases. People stopped drying of measles, for example LONG BEOFRE the vaccine was available. (This statistical info comes from the CDC, but they try to hide it, as Vaccine Risk Awareness books print the link – they change the link.)
Just an idea, but I would imagine there are people who have WIC or others who have extra formula sitting in their house that they don’t need. Maybe post your number here (or on your local chat) so people in need can benefit? I would imagine for some people, formula is a necessity (even more than cream cheese on Pesach is)
I do NOT recommend people do that.
The state monitors people giving away/selling products they received on WIC, and revokes their rights to WIC because they are not using it in the way it was intended.
I had a friend post on a chat that she had WIC cereal she wanted to give away, and her WIC services were suspended for a year. She had to have a hearing to reinstate her acceptance.
To “nursing”- how can you even say that? There are people who can not produce enough milk. You want there babies to starve or are they allowed to give formula?? There are people with medical issues can they give formula? And there are personal reasons that are no ones business can they give formula?? Don’t judge someone just becomes it comes easy to you.
I do NOT recommend people do that.
The state monitors people giving away/selling products they received on WIC, and revokes their rights to WIC because they are not using it in the way it was intended.
I had a friend post on a chat that she had WIC cereal she wanted to give away, and her WIC services were suspended for a year. She had to have a hearing to reinstate her acceptance.
In Canada, the shortage is not as bad. You can still buy at Costco CA
unlimited supply (time being)
If you have friends/relatives who can ship it to LKWD do it ASAP before they run out of stock.