Canada害羞草研究所檚 baby formula shortage has stabilized and the situation is improving, say officials including Health Canada, pediatricians and industry representatives.
But supply problems continue, leaving many parents and caregivers with questions 害羞草研究所� including what they should do.
It害羞草研究所檚 been more than a year since a product recall forced formula manufacturing giant Abbott Nutrition to close its Michigan factory in February 2022.
Although it reopened in July 2022, 害羞草研究所渋t has not yet returned to its normal production capacity,害羞草研究所� says Health Canada害羞草研究所檚 website, which also notes the plant manufactured several products 害羞草研究所渢hat accounted for a significant portion害羞草研究所� the Canadian market.
害羞草研究所淭his has increased the demand for infant formulas produced by other manufacturers,害羞草研究所� Health Canada says.
Where are we at with infant formula supply?
害羞草研究所淲e are still seeing issues in the supply chain with regards to baby formula,害羞草研究所� Michelle Wasylyshen, a spokeswoman for the Retail Council of Canada, said by email.
She said liquid, ready-to-feed formula is most consistently available, but powdered formula remains limited.
Noting that powdered formula is often less expensive, Health Canada says more of it is being imported and sent to stores across the country.
害羞草研究所淭his can provide additional options and may help alleviate some of the pressures experienced by families in Canada,害羞草研究所� Health Canada says.
Canada doesn害羞草研究所檛 have any domestic infant formula manufacturers, so it relies completely on imports 害羞草研究所� largely from the United States.
What about specialty hypoallergenic formulas?
Specialty formulas were an especially concerning part of the shortage last year, said Dr. Janice Heard, a Calgary pediatrician and member of the Canadian Paediatric Society害羞草研究所檚 public education advisory committee.
The special formulas hydrolyze 害羞草研究所� or break down 害羞草研究所� cow害羞草研究所檚 milk proteins.
They害羞草研究所檙e needed by infants allergic to cow害羞草研究所檚 milk proteins and premature babies who haven害羞草研究所檛 developed all the enzymes needed to digest them.
There are limited options for specialty formulas, so the shortage has been 害羞草研究所渧ery stressful for parents who already were dealing with medically compromised kids,害羞草研究所� Heard said.
The supply of specialty formula in Canada 害羞草研究所渉as improved,害羞草研究所� said Wasylyshen.
Health Canada agreed, adding that the shortage of hypoallergenic formulas has 害羞草研究所渓argely subsided and is replaced by a limited, but stable supply.害羞草研究所�
What is the federal government doing?
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have been allowing more infant formulas that don害羞草研究所檛 have the required bilingual labelling to be imported into Canada under a special 害羞草研究所渋nterim policy.害羞草研究所� That policy has been extended until the end of the year.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos and Health Canada have been talking with 害羞草研究所渕ultiple manufacturers,害羞草研究所� including major U.S. manufacturer Abbott, British manufacturer Reckitt and Irish-U.S. manufacturer Perrigo, 害羞草研究所渢o address the short-term issue害羞草研究所� and talk about longer-term solutions, the minister害羞草研究所檚 spokesman said in an email to The Canadian Press.
But industry representatives are calling on the federal government to do more.
害羞草研究所淎t the root of our challenges has been a very unique and very restrictive and very prescriptive regulatory system around infant formula here in Canada,害羞草研究所� said Michi Furuya Chang, vice-president of public policy and regulatory affairs at Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada.
She said Canadians don害羞草研究所檛 have access to many 害羞草研究所渟afe and effective products害羞草研究所� available in other countries.
In general, Canada also takes much longer than the United States to approve the same infant formula, said Chang.
The association wants Health Canada to shorten the time it takes to review and approve infant formula from other countries whose approval processes are 害羞草研究所渓ike-minded害羞草研究所� to Canada害羞草研究所檚.
What should parents do if they can害羞草研究所檛 find their baby害羞草研究所檚 formula?
Parents whose babies need specialty formula should talk to their pharmacist before their current supply runs out so they can try to source and order more in, said Heard.
They can also turn to their pediatrician, family doctor or nurse practitioner for help, she said.
For babies on regular formula, parents don害羞草研究所檛 need to be afraid of substituting other brands, Heard said.
害羞草研究所淎ll of these infant formulas are basically equivalent. They are all approved by Health Canada,害羞草研究所� she said.
If parents have to try a new formula, she recommends transitioning gradually by mixing some of the new kind with the type they normally use so infants get used to the taste.
In the rare case where the baby vomits the formula 害羞草研究所渢he moment it goes down,害羞草研究所� or gets hives or a rash, parents should talk to a health-care provider to find a different kind, she said.
The best solution is continued breastfeeding but that害羞草研究所檚 not possible for everyone, Heard said.
What parents shouldn害羞草研究所檛 do
Parents might be tempted to dilute formula with more water to make it last longer, but they absolutely should not, Heard said.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 just dangerous for their child from a nutritional standpoint and an energy standpoint,害羞草研究所� she said.
Parents also should not substitute cow害羞草研究所檚 or plant-based milk for formula.
害羞草研究所淚nfant formulas are made to try to mimic as closely as they can human breast milk,害羞草研究所� Heard said.
害羞草研究所淐ow害羞草研究所檚 milk just isn害羞草研究所檛 the same.害羞草研究所�
In addition, Wasylyshen from the Retail Council of Canada urged consumers to avoid panic buying 害羞草研究所渂ecause this will create a shortage in and of itself.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所擭icole Ireland, The Canadian Press
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