A baby formula shortage is hitting store shelves around the country.In February, the Food and Drug Administration also announced a recall of several different brands of baby formula.“There definitely is a shortage going on in the nation,” Dr. Rachel Sine said.Sine is a pediatrician with Parkside Pediatrics in Greenville. She says she’s definitely seen some anxiety from parents, especially when it comes to having to switch up their baby’s formula.Thankfully, she says she hasn’t seen the need among her patients become dire. “Definitely some stress from parents who are trying to find their certain formula at the store,” Sine said.If a baby is healthy, Sine said parents have options if they can’t find regular formula right now.”If you can’t find the particular formula you’re on, it’s okay to try a different brand, or even the store brand can be a great option,” she said. “They’re all regulated by the FDA and they have to meet a certain standard by law.”Sine said they are still advising parents to wait until their baby is as close to 12 months old as possible before making the switch to other types of milk like cow’s milk.If you are being met with empty shelves or out-of-stock messages, she does warn against some dangerous alternatives.“You’ll find these recipes to make your own formula and that’s very dangerous, so I would very much advise not to make your own formula at home, as it could be a risk for infection,” Sine said. “It doesn’t have the correct nutrition or electrolytes.”For some of the same reasons, she also warns against diluting baby formula to make it last longer.“Buying list from things like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, and some people have ordered European formulas online,” she said. “None of these things are regulated.”She urges parents to be extremely careful of where they get the formula from, even on sites like Amazon.If your baby does have specific health concerns, Sine said parents should talk with their doctor before making any changes.WYFF News 4 reached out to Publix about whether its stores are being impacted by the baby formula shortages. It shared the following statement:”The supermarket supply chain is under a lot of stress, impacted by product and labor shortages, demand, record exports, shipping constraints, and inflation. We continue to maintain constant communication with our suppliers; however, various product lines may be out of stock in assorted categories.”
A baby formula shortage is hitting store shelves around the country.
In February, the Food and Drug Administration also announced a recall of several different brands of baby formula.
“There definitely is a shortage going on in the nation,” Dr. Rachel Sine said.
Sine is a pediatrician with Parkside Pediatrics in Greenville. She says she’s definitely seen some anxiety from parents, especially when it comes to having to switch up their baby’s formula.
Thankfully, she says she hasn’t seen the need among her patients become dire.
“Definitely some stress from parents who are trying to find their certain formula at the store,” Sine said.
If a baby is healthy, Sine said parents have options if they can’t find regular formula right now.
“If you can’t find the particular formula you’re on, it’s okay to try a different brand, or even the store brand can be a great option,” she said. “They’re all regulated by the FDA and they have to meet a certain standard by law.”
Sine said they are still advising parents to wait until their baby is as close to 12 months old as possible before making the switch to other types of milk like cow’s milk.
If you are being met with empty shelves or out-of-stock messages, she does warn against some dangerous alternatives.
“You’ll find these recipes to make your own formula and that’s very dangerous, so I would very much advise not to make your own formula at home, as it could be a risk for infection,” Sine said. “It doesn’t have the correct nutrition or electrolytes.”
For some of the same reasons, she also warns against diluting baby formula to make it last longer.
“Buying list from things like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace, and some people have ordered European formulas online,” she said. “None of these things are regulated.”
She urges parents to be extremely careful of where they get the formula from, even on sites like Amazon.
If your baby does have specific health concerns, Sine said parents should talk with their doctor before making any changes.
WYFF News 4 reached out to Publix about whether its stores are being impacted by the baby formula shortages. It shared the following statement:
“The supermarket supply chain is under a lot of stress, impacted by product and labor shortages, demand, record exports, shipping constraints, and inflation. We continue to maintain constant communication with our suppliers; however, various product lines may be out of stock in assorted categories.”