The baby formula shortage is getting worse. This is the situation in Charlotte
The nationwide baby formula shortage continues, leaving families scrambling and concerned about keeping their young children healthy. And Charlotte parents and caregivers are feeling the impacts, with one recent study listing the city among the hardest hit metro areas in the country.
Still, there are places where you can find formula in the Charlotte area. There are also plenty of homemade formula “alternatives” circulating online that can pose serious health risks to babies, according to doctors.
Here’s what to know about how the baby formula shortage is impacting Charlotte and what you can and can’t safely do, according to medical experts:
Are Charlotte stores running out of baby formula?
Charlotte families have been hit hard by the formula shortage, according to the firm Datasembly.
The group’s study found the Charlotte metro area was one of just 12 in the nation with an out-of-stock rate of more than 40% as of April, the most recent data available. That figure translates to many local parents and caregivers having to hunt for formula.
Some major retailers, such as CVS, have placed limits on how much formula individuals can buy at one time.
Charlotte-area locations of stores including CVS, Target, Walgreens, Harris Teeter and Walmart showed limited availability of various types and brands of formula online as of Thursday, for both in-store purchase and shipping. But some locations weren’t completely sold out.
If you’re searching for formula, you can check stores’ websites and apps ahead of time to see what’s available. You can sometimes reserve items ahead of time for pick-up and check to see if other locations in the Charlotte area have a better selection.
And if you still can’t find what you need or are struggling with the cost of formula, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends talking to your child’s pediatrician about food banks, local agencies, breast milk banks and more that can help you locate what you need.
Why is there a baby formula shortage?
Much of the issues with supplies of baby formula have stemmed from a recall affecting major brands.
The voluntary recall, issued by the Food and Drug Administration earlier this year, called for parents and caregivers to not give babies certain Similac, Alimentum, or EleCare powdered infant formulas due to reports of infants getting sick after having formula from a certain factory.
“We are doing everything in our power to ensure there is adequate product available where and when they need it,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf said in a May 10 statement updating the situation.
Supply chain issues, some related to the COVID-19 pandemic, have also contributed to the shortage, Datasembly CEO Ben Reich said in a report from his organization on the subject.
“Inflation, supply chain shortages, and product recalls have brought an unprecedented amount of volatility for baby formula,” he said. “We expect to continue to see the baby formula category being dramatically affected by these conditions. Baby formula stock, which has been one of the more affected categories so far in 2022, and one that will continue to demonstrate higher than average out-of-stock levels.”
The report from Datasembly, a data collection company focused on the retail market, found the out-of-stock rate for baby formula in the U.S. reached 31% in April, up from 23% January and an average of 2-8% in 2021.
Is homemade baby formula safe?
Recipes for homemade baby formula have been making the rounds on social media amid the nationwide shortage, but medical experts strongly advise against giving it to babies.
“Although recipes for homemade formulas circulating on the internet may seem healthy, less expensive or an answer to the baby formula shortage, they are risky,” the American Academy of Pediatrics says. “Homemade formula may not be safe or meet your baby’s nutritional needs.”
The FDA offers similar warnings, citing cases when babies fed homemade formula had to be hospitalized.
“These problems are very serious, and the consequences range from severe nutritional imbalances to foodborne illnesses, both of which can be life-threatening,” the agency says. “Because of these severe health concerns, the FDA strongly advises parents and caregivers not to make and feed their infants homemade infant formulas.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics also cautions parents to not water down formula, use formula imported from other countries or give babies less than a year old “cow milk or other milk substitutes from the dairy section of the grocery store, such as almond or soy beverages.”
“The first year of life is a key time for your baby’s brain and body to grow. If your baby doesn’t get enough of the important parts of infant formula — even for a few days or weeks — they can suffer long-term effects on their abilities to grow strong and do well in school,” the group says. “Lack of these nutrients can lead to severe health problems and even death.”
This story was originally published May 12, 2022 at 2:27 PM.
