CanadaB次元官网网址檚 baby formula shortage has stabilized and the situation is improving, say officials including Health Canada, pediatricians and industry representatives.
But supply problems continue, leaving many parents and caregivers with questions B次元官网网址� including what they should do.
ItB次元官网网址檚 been more than a year since a product recall forced formula manufacturing giant Abbott Nutrition to close its Michigan factory in February 2022.
Although it reopened in July 2022, B次元官网网址渋t has not yet returned to its normal production capacity,B次元官网网址� says Health CanadaB次元官网网址檚 website, which also notes the plant manufactured several products B次元官网网址渢hat accounted for a significant portionB次元官网网址� the Canadian market.
B次元官网网址淭his has increased the demand for infant formulas produced by other manufacturers,B次元官网网址� Health Canada says.
Where are we at with infant formula supply?
B次元官网网址淲e are still seeing issues in the supply chain with regards to baby formula,B次元官网网址� Michelle Wasylyshen, a spokeswoman for the Retail Council of Canada, said by email.
She said liquid, ready-to-feed formula is most consistently available, but powdered formula remains limited.
Noting that powdered formula is often less expensive, Health Canada says more of it is being imported and sent to stores across the country.
B次元官网网址淭his can provide additional options and may help alleviate some of the pressures experienced by families in Canada,B次元官网网址� Health Canada says.
Canada doesnB次元官网网址檛 have any domestic infant formula manufacturers, so it relies completely on imports B次元官网网址� largely from the United States.
What about specialty hypoallergenic formulas?
Specialty formulas were an especially concerning part of the shortage last year, said Dr. Janice Heard, a Calgary pediatrician and member of the Canadian Paediatric SocietyB次元官网网址檚 public education advisory committee.
The special formulas hydrolyze B次元官网网址� or break down B次元官网网址� cowB次元官网网址檚 milk proteins.
TheyB次元官网网址檙e needed by infants allergic to cowB次元官网网址檚 milk proteins and premature babies who havenB次元官网网址檛 developed all the enzymes needed to digest them.
There are limited options for specialty formulas, so the shortage has been B次元官网网址渧ery stressful for parents who already were dealing with medically compromised kids,B次元官网网址� Heard said.
The supply of specialty formula in Canada B次元官网网址渉as improved,B次元官网网址� said Wasylyshen.
Health Canada agreed, adding that the shortage of hypoallergenic formulas has B次元官网网址渓argely subsided and is replaced by a limited, but stable supply.B次元官网网址�
What is the federal government doing?
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have been allowing more infant formulas that donB次元官网网址檛 have the required bilingual labelling to be imported into Canada under a special B次元官网网址渋nterim policy.B次元官网网址� That policy has been extended until the end of the year.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Health Canada have been talking with B次元官网网址渕ultiple manufacturers,B次元官网网址� including major U.S. manufacturer Abbott, British manufacturer Reckitt and Irish-U.S. manufacturer Perrigo, B次元官网网址渢o address the short-term issueB次元官网网址� and talk about longer-term solutions, the ministerB次元官网网址檚 spokesman said in an email to The Canadian Press.
But industry representatives are calling on the federal government to do more.
B次元官网网址淎t the root of our challenges has been a very unique and very restrictive and very prescriptive regulatory system around infant formula here in Canada,B次元官网网址� said Michi Furuya Chang, vice-president of public policy and regulatory affairs at Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada.
She said Canadians donB次元官网网址檛 have access to many B次元官网网址渟afe and effective productsB次元官网网址� available in other countries.
In general, Canada also takes much longer than the United States to approve the same infant formula, said Chang.
The association wants Health Canada to shorten the time it takes to review and approve infant formula from other countries whose approval processes are B次元官网网址渓ike-mindedB次元官网网址� to CanadaB次元官网网址檚.
What should parents do if they canB次元官网网址檛 find their babyB次元官网网址檚 formula?
Parents whose babies need specialty formula should talk to their pharmacist before their current supply runs out so they can try to source and order more in, said Heard.
They can also turn to their pediatrician, family doctor or nurse practitioner for help, she said.
For babies on regular formula, parents donB次元官网网址檛 need to be afraid of substituting other brands, Heard said.
B次元官网网址淎ll of these infant formulas are basically equivalent. They are all approved by Health Canada,B次元官网网址� she said.
If parents have to try a new formula, she recommends transitioning gradually by mixing some of the new kind with the type they normally use so infants get used to the taste.
In the rare case where the baby vomits the formula B次元官网网址渢he moment it goes down,B次元官网网址� or gets hives or a rash, parents should talk to a health-care provider to find a different kind, she said.
The best solution is continued breastfeeding but thatB次元官网网址檚 not possible for everyone, Heard said.
What parents shouldnB次元官网网址檛 do
Parents might be tempted to dilute formula with more water to make it last longer, but they absolutely should not, Heard said.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 just dangerous for their child from a nutritional standpoint and an energy standpoint,B次元官网网址� she said.
Parents also should not substitute cowB次元官网网址檚 or plant-based milk for formula.
B次元官网网址淚nfant formulas are made to try to mimic as closely as they can human breast milk,B次元官网网址� Heard said.
B次元官网网址淐owB次元官网网址檚 milk just isnB次元官网网址檛 the same.B次元官网网址�
In addition, Wasylyshen from the Retail Council of Canada urged consumers to avoid panic buying B次元官网网址渂ecause this will create a shortage in and of itself.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址擭icole Ireland, The Canadian Press
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