Yep much to do about nothing. Fear brains.

What I find sad and pathetic are people that are so married to their politics that they dismiss the very evident reality that right now infants in this country are at risk of starvation, malnutrition, and death because of the shortage.  

These same individuals had no issue casting aspersions at the previous administration ad nauseum for grievances that were far-less tangible.

This situation is disgraceful regardless of what type of administration is in charge.    

@mapman 

i usually don’t involve myself in internet arguments these days. It’s wasted energy with little reward. 
 

I work in healthcare and have to see the impact of this shortage on parents  everyday right now.. The dismissal of it as no big deal is detached from reality. 
 

That being said, even though there is vehement disagreement on this thread I certainly don’t think anyone is evil or acting malicious. 

@nonoise 

That article proves my point. No one is sympathizing with Abbott, they are equally at fault. The FDA was told about the issue back in September. They did nothing. 

They waited until four infants died before panic-acting and shutting the plant down without any consideration for how it would impact supply. 

It wouldn't have taken much for the FDA to emergency-authorize importation of formula from Europe, Canada, Mexico. 

Instead the plant is still shut-down.

Public-safety also involves ensuring supply.   

@ghasley 

The federal government becomes responsible for baby formula when it directly gets involved in the purchasing, manufacturing, and import-limiting of the product. 

You can't take a significant amount of control and oversight over a product and then when you help break down the availability of it, back-away. That's not leadership or governance; that's cowardice.

The FDA dropped the ball on their investigation and subsequent closure of the Abbott factory. The factory has been closed for over three months because of government intervention and incompetence. Now after the public outcry they've come to an agreement? What happened over the last 12 weeks?

The FDA also has expressly prohibited importing formula from other countries, again until the recent public outcry. 

Also, please get educated on the severity of the situation. For many children there aren't any alternatives that don't impose serious risks. Do you work in healthcare? I do. People are bringing infants into the ER out of desperation. There have also been  instances, albeit rare, of children needing surgical intervention (g-tubes) to acquire nutrition because there formula is unavailable. 

This issue shouldn't be made benign to save the face of any administration; D or R. 

@nonoise 

You are so disingenuous and your response completely proves my point. You immediately made it democrat versus republican. Hysterical! 

Trump isn't in office anymore; get over it. He left 17 months ago. The current president and his administration dropped the ball on this. 

Also, the FDA Baby Formula Act? 28 million dollars to the same agency that helped cause the problem? Sounds like a great idea.