Since the formula shortage became front-page news the Biden administration finally decided to move into action but, their advice failed.
Two families in Tennessee have had their children hospitalized because they can’t find the formula due to their special medical needs.
Hospital officials have reported that neither doctors nor family members could find the formula the children needed. Due to their medical condition, the children were unable to adjust to other brands of formula that were available. Both children were admitted to the Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and have been placed on IV fluids and nutrition until their formula becomes available.
“This is a crisis for us in health care,” said Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital.
“This is not every child, not normal children, but literally the formula recall has led to these children requiring hospitalization,” Corkins said.
“This recall started in February. Even if you had several weeks of stock, we’re now out for the special formulas,” Corkins said. “So literally we have what we have. We have some things that we’re trying to find. We’re trying to use some alternatives but the standard ones, the ones you would think of, there is none to be had.”
HEARTBREAKING: “Two children were hospitalized for intestinal illnesses after their parents could not find the formula they needed.” pic.twitter.com/MBbK5PPop1
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 18, 2022
The day after it was learned the children were hospitalized a story broke that in October 2021 a whistleblower alerted the FDA about unsanitary practices at the Abbott plant but they didn’t take any action until January 31.
“Why did the FDA not spring into action?” Rep. Rosa DeLauro asked. “Why did it take four months to pull this formula off store shelves? How many infants were fed contaminated formula during this time?”
The whistleblower was an employee that was fired after allegedly raising concerns about practicing going on inside the plant which forced a recall in 2022. According to the 54-page report the issue was over the formula cans not sealing properly.
From Politico:
Instead of addressing the problem head on, there were instances in which employees altered the plant’s testing process so that empty cans were tested instead of sealed cans containing the product, according to the document. The former employee indicated that this “questionable practice was never disclosed or referenced in records that came to his attention. He has reason to believe that the questionable practice has not ceased and, as well, has not been disclosed to FDA officials,” the document says.
What has Washington in an uproar is why did it take the Biden administration so long to investigate and why did they not prepare for the fallout appropriately?
But don’t you worry the FDA will approve an experimental vaccine to use on kids at the drop of a hat.