National Association of Counties
Though the months-long infant formula shortage has improved somewhat in recent weeks, the low stock continues to impact county residents across the nation. With many families still struggling to find and purchase infant formula, Congress and the White House have taken additional steps in recent weeks to address the crisis.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended funding flexibility through September 30, 2022 for the Special Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program to cover the cost of non-contract formula for WIC participants. WIC operates through 1,900 local agencies at 10,000 clinic sites, many of which are county health departments, to provide nutrition services to low-income pregnant and post-partum women, children, and infants and is responsible for providing formula benefits for 1.2 million low-income infants.
USDA has also released two new informational resources for WIC participants. The first resource addresses WIC nutrition assessment during the infant formula shortage. This resource contains a series of considerations and tools that WIC staff can use to accurately evaluate nutrition risks that WIC participants may face during the infant formula shortage. USDA also released a resource on combination feeding, the practice of using both breastmilk and formula to feed infants. The resource includes tips for safe combination feeding, including ways to introduce breastfeeding and monitoring infant health.
UPDATE: On August 23, USDA officially announced it would be extending formula-related waivers within the WIC program through December 31, 2022, or 60 days after the expiration of a State’s COVID-19 major disaster declaration.
On July 21, President Biden signed the Formula Act (P.L. 117-160) into law, suspending tariffs on imports of finished infant formula through December 31, 2022. These tariffs increase the cost of infant formula imported from certain countries, which can exacerbate supply chain issues and prevent families from accessing infant formula.
Members of Congress are also urging infant formula manufacturers to stop sending infant formula samples to people on consumer lists while the shortage persists. On July 21, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and 13 other lawmakers sent a letter to the Infant Nutrition Council of America, a trade group representing major infant formula manufacturers, to cease the advertising practice in order to preserve supply for families in need.
The Biden administration also continues to conduct missions as part of Operation Fly Formula, which aims to get more infant formula to store shelves by using Department of Defense aircraft to fly in formula from overseas. Operation Fly Formula has had 17 operations so far, the most recent of which were two flights from Switzerland to New York on July 21 and 22. Together, the imports from Operation Fly Formula have transported 61 million eight-ounce bottle equivalents to the U.S.
As trusted community messengers, county leaders should continue to direct residents to credible resources such as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Landing Page on Information for Families During the Formula Shortage. This resource provides information and answers in multiple languages to common questions for families on where to find formula and tips for finding safe substitutes. USDA also maintains an infant formula shortage resource page, which contains information to assist WIC program stakeholders in helping families safely acquire infant formula.
NACo will continue to monitor the infant formula shortage and the response by our federal partners.
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