WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) wrote a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf urging the agency to act quickly to combat the critical shortage of infant formula across the U.S., and to use the tools at the agency’s disposal to help predict and prevent future supply chain problems. In the letter, the senators specifically call on the FDA to highlight the steps they are taking to combat this shortage and outline ways Congress can help to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
“We write today with great concern regarding the infant formula shortage that has impacted families with young children across the United States, including Nevadans,” the Senators wrote. “If this shortage is not resolved quickly, families will have few options for ensuring their young children, especially infants, get the critical nutrition they need.”
“We recognize the importance of actions by the FDA in response to contaminated formula products, which were necessary to protect the health and lives of infants and urge additional actions to be taken to ensure that production of essential products—especially specialized infant formula for young children with specific nutritional needs—is addressed simultaneously to prevent shortages,” the Senators continued.
The Senators go on to demand the FDA provide them with detailed information on how the FDA is working to ramp up production of baby formula and address systemic supply chain challenges related specifically to infant formula. The letter also requests additional information on what the Biden administration can do going forward to prevent future dangerous supply chain disruptions.
The Senators concluded by stating, “we urge clear communication to the public regarding updates on shortages, including cross-agency collaboration to provide regular updates on availability of formula products, safety of alternatives, and where to find up-to-date information.”
The full text of the letter can be found here.
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