New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Baby formula shortage hitting state hard
A national shortage of baby formula on store shelves is hitting Connecticut particularly hard, according to a company that tracks retail data.
In April , the out-ofstock rate for infant formula nationally jumped from 31 percent to 40 percent, according figures reported by Datasembly, the retail tracking company.
But in Connecticut, the jump in bare shelves of retailers selling formula was even more dramatic— up to 48 percent in the first week of May from 23 percent in the first week of March.
“Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility to the category, and we expect to continue to see baby formula as one of the most affected categories in the market,” Datasembly CEO Ben Reich said in a statement.
Six states – Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Missouri, Texas and Tennessee – saw out of stock rates above 50 percent in the last week of April, according to the company’s data.
In response, some retailers have imposed limits on the amount of formula people can buy at once.
Costco, Walgreens and CVS all have introduced caps on how much formula people can purchase, the New York Times reported.
Facebook groups also exist for people to sell or ask for where to buy baby formula.
The shortages come after the Food and Drug Administration issued a recall for some formula made at the Abbott Nutrition’s Facility in Sturgis, Mich. The agency sent out the recall after reports of infants falling ill and becoming hospitalized.