The Baby Formula Shortage is hurting my community. Please help us.
88 so far! Help us get to 100 signers!
The infant formula shortage is affecting millions of Americans, including in my own community. In the last week of April, 40% of the top-selling baby formula products were out of stock at retailers throughout the U.S., according to The Wall Street Journal. Many retailers have started limiting the number of formula products consumers can purchase, further exacerbating the supply and demand issue. There are some families who must drive tens to hundreds of miles to find baby formula in stock; other families have turned to third-party selling platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, paying hundreds of dollars above retail price just so they can feed their babies.
This infant formula shortage disproportionately impacts babies who are Black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American. Similarly, babies who live in low income families are also disproportionately impacted by this shortage. Even among families with means and privilege, the constant search to meet their babies’ nutritional needs impacts these parents’ ability to work, take care of other children, and bond with their child who needs formula because they are spending so much time, money, and effort just to find formula in stock.
In addition to babies, older children with complicated medical conditions or who are medically fragile can also require formula products that are hard to find because of supply issues nationwide.
It is not simply enough to advise mothers to feed their children with breast milk; there are many mothers for whom formula is the only way to feed their children. Additionally, there are many mothers who do breast-feed and must use formula to supplement their child’s nutrition.
This is a critical human rights issue that must be addressed at the federal level. I am urging you to leverage your legislative resources to help hundreds of thousands of American families like those in my community who have been impacted by this national formula shortage. Our children need and deserve your help.
