— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
We’ve …
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. We’ve been no stranger to shortages over the past few years, but one particular shortage is leaving parents reeling: Baby formula. Parents across the country have been scrambling to find the formulas their infants need, often returning home empty-handed after being met with bare shelves. In May, there reached a time when 43% of popular formula brands were sold out across the U.S., but all hope is not lost. We’ve spoken with accredited pediatricians and organizations to compile tips that will help you navigate the shortage. We’ve also come up with a list of retailers that stock up on formula regularly. We understand that you’re worried and frustrated for your baby’s sake, and we’re here to help you get through this. Supply for this essential good has been low since November of last year, and in recent months, it’s only gotten worst. Abbott Nutrition recalled their Similac, Alimentum and EleCare formulas back in February after four infants fell ill and two infants died, leading to concerns about bacterial contamination in the Michigan facility. The plant was shut down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and was only recently cleared to start production back up. Abbott announced that it plans to restart production on June 4 and will prioritize EleCare formula, which is hypoallergenic and critical for infants and children who have severe food allergies or gastrointestinal disorders. While many places are out of formula, you can rest assured that there are still a number of storefronts that have it in stock; the trick is knowing where to look. Sometimes, this means looking in places you might not expect to find baby formula, like office supply chains or drugstores. We’ve compiled a list of places that carry infant formula. If the retailer near you is out of stock, check back often for updates as restocks are common. Note that some stores may have formula available for purchase in-store even though they appear to be sold out online. Wegmans: Wegmans, a chain located in the northeastern United States, has infant formula in stock. The short answer is that it depends. When it comes to new, unopened packages of formula, some have shelf lives of up to 18 months. (You can find this information in the form of a “use by” date on the container.
