FDA Finally Admits It Caused the Baby Formula Shortage

[GURPS]

That might be true now, but it clearly hasn't been the case in the past. As Reason has detailed throughout the recent crisis, the FDA's priorities have been protecting the domestic formula industry (and the dairy industry, which provides key inputs for baby formula) from foreign competition. As a result, it's nearly impossible to find foreign-made baby formula in the U.S., even though formula manufacturers based in England, the Netherlands, and Germany are some of the biggest suppliers of baby formula to the rest of the world.

When the Abbott Nutrition plant in Michigan was forced to close temporarily due to an FDA investigation into possible contamination, it created a supply shock that left store shelves empty and parents scrambling to find formula. Because of the FDA's protectionist rules (and high tariffs levied on foreign-made formula), markets could not adapt quickly to the shortage here in America—instead, we got political stunts like the White House's "Operation Fly Formula" that accomplished little.

In testimony to Congress, FDA officials admitted to botching the response to the contamination at the Abbott plant. But the real culprit of the recent shortage was a deeper and more pervasive one. No matter what nationalists like Sen. Josh Hawley (R–Mo.) might suggest, closing off the country to international trade is not a recipe for resilience. The baby formula crisis demonstrated that it is quite the opposite.

So it's good to see the FDA admit those mistakes and crack open the door to allowing foreign formula into the U.S. on a permanent basis.

FDA Finally Admits It Caused the Baby Formula Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally determined what's to blame for America's recent shortage of baby formula. The FDA. More specifically,

reason.com

 

[vraiblonde]

They always do this sh*t. 1 out of 10 billion consumers get sick supposedly off a particular product, so they freak out and pull the product. They do it with dog chow every other damn day.

And because we're a bunch of stupid covid heads we fall for it. Every. Single. Time. Even though intellectually we should know better, we panic and freak and lose our hivemind.

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

They always do this sh*t. 1 out of 10 billion consumers get sick supposedly off a particular product, so they freak out and pull the product. They do it with dog chow every other damn day.

And because we're a bunch of stupid covid heads we fall for it. Every. Single. Time. Even though intellectually we should know better, we panic and freak and lose our hivemind.

Just like when the swine flu shot in the '76 caused 32 deaths, the FDA pulled it from the market. Apparently they changed their metric parameter safety protocols, seeing as the COVID shot itself has killed over 11,000. They instead are now focusing their attention on food stuffs.

 

[BOP]

That might be true now, but it clearly hasn't been the case in the past. As Reason has detailed throughout the recent crisis, the FDA's priorities have been protecting the domestic formula industry (and the dairy industry, which provides key inputs for baby formula) from foreign competition. As a result, it's nearly impossible to find foreign-made baby formula in the U.S., even though formula manufacturers based in England, the Netherlands, and Germany are some of the biggest suppliers of baby formula to the rest of the world.

When the Abbott Nutrition plant in Michigan was forced to close temporarily due to an FDA investigation into possible contamination, it created a supply shock that left store shelves empty and parents scrambling to find formula. Because of the FDA's protectionist rules (and high tariffs levied on foreign-made formula), markets could not adapt quickly to the shortage here in America—instead, we got political stunts like the White House's "Operation Fly Formula" that accomplished little.

In testimony to Congress, FDA officials admitted to botching the response to the contamination at the Abbott plant. But the real culprit of the recent shortage was a deeper and more pervasive one. No matter what nationalists like Sen. Josh Hawley (R–Mo.) might suggest, closing off the country to international trade is not a recipe for resilience. The baby formula crisis demonstrated that it is quite the opposite.

So it's good to see the FDA admit those mistakes and crack open the door to allowing foreign formula into the U.S. on a permanent basis.

FDA Finally Admits It Caused the Baby Formula Shortage

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally determined what's to blame for America's recent shortage of baby formula. The FDA. More specifically,

reason.com

I only have a few Abbott stocks, but they've been shiite for a while now. They closed at $109-something yesterday, but well down over the last 12 months as a company, and as part of the health care equipment and supplies industry.

Guess I should have picked better.

 

[Clem72]

They always do this sh*t. 1 out of 10 billion consumers get sick supposedly off a particular product, so they freak out and pull the product. They do it with dog chow every other damn day.

They do it with dog food for good reason, they used to let any old crap be labeled as dog food. My dog died in 2006 and the vet attributed it to poisoning after doing a blood screen (warned me off of dog treats made in china). Low and behold a few months later the brand of dog food we always fed him (walmart brand Ol' Roy) was recalled because.....it was killing dogs.

So yeah, thankfully they are checking the stuff now. Wish they checked it half as dilligently before.

 

[vraiblonde]

They do it with dog food for good reason, they used to let any old crap be labeled as dog food. My dog died in 2006 and the vet attributed it to poisoning after doing a blood screen (warned me off of dog treats made in china). Low and behold a few months later the brand of dog food we always fed him (walmart brand Ol' Roy) was recalled because.....it was killing dogs.

So yeah, thankfully they are checking the stuff now. Wish they checked it half as dilligently before.

If they banned everything that killed or sickened a consumer we'd all starve to death. When tens of millions consume the product and only a dozen or so get sick, one should come to the logical conclusion that it's not the product that caused it.

But sure, jump on that "ban everything" bandwagon and have fun. Then you can stop eating meat and veggies, and snack cakes, and anything at a restaurant, and milk, and baby formula, and ice cream, and bread, and peanut butter. It's unlikely there's a single consumable product that *hasn't* made at least one person ill.

AND! If you'd feed your dog a good chow instead of cheap crap you wouldn't have to worry about fillers and other junk they put in it.

So there.

 

[UglyBear]

If they banned everything that killed or sickened a consumer we'd all starve to death. When tens of millions consume the product and only a dozen or so get sick, one should come to the logical conclusion that it's not the product that caused it.

But sure, jump on that "ban everything" bandwagon and have fun. Then you can stop eating meat and veggies, and snack cakes, and anything at a restaurant, and milk, and baby formula, and ice cream, and bread, and peanut butter. It's unlikely there's a single consumable product that *hasn't* made at least one person ill.

AND! If you'd feed your dog a good chow instead of cheap crap you wouldn't have to worry about fillers and other junk they put in it.

So there.

Ya know what ALL people consumed before they died? The one substance, the ultimate killer. Old, young, thin, fat… nobody never did escape. Fetuses in utero get it from their junkie moms. Hospitals give it out to geriatrics. It has no taste, no color, no smell. And it’s an ingredient in almost everything you consume.
Water. The good old H2O.
Biden’s FDA should get on that. The next ultra-libbie MD governor should tax it, and assess its effect on BIPOCs and LTBTPs.