Due to bacterial contamination, Abbott had to completely stop production of several product lines. Now company boss Robert Ford turns to the public – and promises improvement.
The largest US infant formula maker, Abbott, has expressed regret at the dramatic shortages following the shutdown of one of its factories.
“We feel sorry for every family we have let down since our voluntary recall exacerbated our country’s baby food shortage,” Abbott CEO Robert Ford wrote in a op-ed for the Washington Post. Nevertheless, one believes that the recall was correct. “We will not take any chances when it comes to children’s health.” Ford announced measures to overcome the bottlenecks.
Abbott had recalled several product lines after four infants became ill and two died, possibly due to bacterial contamination. Production at a plant in the state of Michigan has been completely stopped for the time being. Ford wrote in the op-ed that it is known that due to a lack of Abbott formula, some children who cannot digest other foods and milk have been hospitalized. “This is tragic and heartbreaking.”
The Abbott boss continued to write that the production of this special food was given the highest priority. The affected families should be helped with a fund of 5 million dollars (4.73 million euros). In addition, another Abbott plant that otherwise manufactures products for adults has now been converted to baby food. In addition, baby food is flown in from a factory in Ireland. The Michigan plant is expected to reopen in the first week of June. Abbott is also investing in measures to ensure that such bottlenecks do not occur again.
US President Joe Biden has made baby formula shortages a top priority and used a wartime law to boost production. The White House had previously announced that military aircraft would fly baby food to the United States from the US base in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate over the weekend. (dpa)