First child method shipment arrives in U.S. from Europe

WASHINGTON, May 22 (Reuters) - A military cargo aircraft carrying the first shipment of infant method from Europe to help deal with a vital shortage in the United States landed in Indianapolis on Sunday, and the White House said a second flight had been arranged.

A Feb. 17 recall by prime child formulation maker Abbott Laboratories (ABT.N) and the closing of its manufacturing plant in Sturgis, Michigan throughout an investigation by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has created one of many largest infant components shortages in current history for U.S. families.

"This is a crucial step, but it is in no way the only step that should take place. We will continue to work because the president has instructed us to look for each alternative to extend supply," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who greeted the plane on its arrival.

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"This particular components is for a very, very small proportion of youngsters. Roughly 17,000 children in the country principally are the beneficiaries of this explicit system," he mentioned.

President Joe Biden's administration is looking for to stock empty shelves with 1.5 million containers of Nestle (NESN.S) specialty toddler formulation. Biden last week invoked the Chilly Warfare-era Protection Production Act to assist increase provides.

The White Home stated on Sunday a second flight carrying method would leave from Ramstein Air Base in Germany in coming days. The White Home stated that Abbott and a second baby formula maker, Reckitt , have been the first companies given precedence status for raw supplies beneath the Defense Production Act.

Pallets of toddler system being shipped from Europe to the US during Operation Fly Formulation are seen in a transport aircraft at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in a photograph launched May 22, 2022. The White Home/Handout by way of REUTERS

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Nestle also said more shipments would arrive in the coming days. learn extra

Troops used forklifts to unload bins of the cargo from the aircraft in Indianapolis and onto trucks heading to distribution facilities.The White Home stated 78,000 pounds (35,000 kg) of specialty toddler formulation - sufficient for 500,000 bottles - had arrived on the flight.

Abbott, the largest U.S. supplier of powder infant formula, closed its Michigan plant following studies of bacterial infections in four infants, worsening a scarcity among a number of manufacturers that started with supply-chain points tied to the coronavirus pandemic.

Abbott Chief Executive Robert Ford apologized for the scarcity on Sunday and promised to repair it, adding the plant would reopen in the first week of June, and it would take six to eight weeks for merchandise to achieve retailer cabinets.

"We're sorry to each family we have let down since our voluntary recall exacerbated our nation’s baby components shortage," he wrote in a Washington Post column.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday declared a state of emergency to prevent worth gouging of baby formulation.

"This emergency govt order will help us to crack down on any retailer trying to capitalize on this crisis by jacking up prices on this important good," Adams said in an announcement.

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Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein and Chris Gallagher, additional reporting by Jessica DiNapoli in Davos, Switzerland, Barbara Goldberg in New York and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Modifying by Ross Colvin, Bill Berkrot, Chris Reese and Paul Simao

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