WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden will speak with infant formula retailers and manufacturers about supply issues on Thursday before the White House announces additional actions to address shortages, a White House official said.
Shortages developed after Abbott Laboratories in February recalled Similac and other baby formula made at its Michigan plant following complaints of bacterial infections in infants who consumed the products.
Abbott, the biggest supplier of milk formula in the United States, said on Wednesdasy it could restart production within two weeks of infant formula at the Michigan plant that has been tied to the shortages.
Biden will “receive an update on efforts to make infant formula supply more available to American families,” the White House official said.
The official did not identify which company representatives would be at the meeting.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said it is working with manufacturers to alleviate supply issues and that several companies are at or over capacity.
A number of U.S. retailers, including Target Corp, CVS Health Corp and Walgreens Boots Alliance, have limited in-store and online formula purchases.
(Reporting by Jeff Mason, Doina Chiacu and Susan Heavey; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
