One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
California Expands Access To Infant Formula Amid Ongoing Shortage
A woman learns about the limited supply of formula at a store in Chelsea, Massachusetts. A lack of formula, the result of a perfect storm of supply chain issues and a massive recall, is leaving parents increasingly desperate.
(
Joseph Prezioso
/
AFP via Getty Images
)
Amid the ongoing baby formula shortage, California has expanded buying options for low-income families with WIC benefits.
The state's Women, Infants and Children program, part of the state Public Health Department, assists families with food access, nutrition education and breastfeeding support, among other services. It's now offering 13 different types and sizes of baby formula for families in need.
The problem started last year because of the supply chain crisis. It worsened earlier this year when Abbott Nutrition recalled several brands of formula after four babies came down with bacterial infections and two of them died. The infections prompted the shutdown of Abbott's factory in Sturgis, Michigan.
"It's been extremely stressful and everyone's very aware of the stress that families have," said Karen Farley with the nonprofit California WIC Association. "First of all, having a new baby is a challenge, and then being concerned about feeding them is extremely distressing."
Farley said more formula options will be added in the coming days and she hopes this will help make it easier on parents.
But the new options are temporary. WIC will remove them once the shortage eases.
Sponsored message
Here are some tips from the Public Health Department on safely navigating this shortage:
- Contact your local WIC office with questions about how the different formula options work for your baby
- If you don't qualify for WIC, call your health care provider first to help navigate your options
- Do not dilute formula or use homemade recipes, as this could risk harming the baby's health
- Read more about the infant formula shortage at cdph.ca.gov/formula
- Check for the latest updates at MyFamily.WIC.ca.gov or use the California WIC App
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
