For the past few months, parents of newborns have gone to great lengths to find baby formula to feed their babies.

On top of being unable to find baby formula, several businesses are placing a limit on the amount that can be purchased at one time, due to parents' panic buying.

Many factors could have led to the formula shortage. One cause of the shortage could have been supply chain issues from the pandemic. There was an increased demand with more safety restrictions. The war in Ukraine and insufficient supplies have also been added to the list of reasons for the shortage.

Among the odds stacked against formula companies, one of the largest contributors to the formula shortage was when Abbott Laboratories - producer of U.S. largest formula brand Similac - shut down its Michigan factory in February, due to contamination concerns.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, two babies died and four babies became ill after ingesting formula from the factory.

In March, the FDA posted findings that Abbott was not following sanitary conditions. However, the FDA did not find any traces of bacteria in the formula.

Abbott and FDA are working closely to reopen the Michigan plant in a timely manner. Product shipments for Reckitt, the second-largest formula brand, have increased by 30% since January 2022.

On Wednesday, May 18, President Joe Biden made a statement that he will be invoking the Defense Production Act in order to increase formula supply. The federal government's health and agriculture agencies are also using the Pentagon's contracts to import formula from overseas so that the formula still meets the safety standards of FDA. The shortage has led to lawmakers seeking fixes to rectify the shortage.

Locally, TJ's Market in Orchard has been affected by the formula shortage.

Todd Erb, owner of TJ's Market, said, "We had about 20 cans, and it's all gone now. There's not a single can left."

He also stated that is seems to be all kinds of formula rather than just one particular brand. Formula for babies with allergies or special medical needs has been even more difficult to find during the shortage. Erb did not notice an increase in price because formula is purchased through WIC, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and children; therefore, the prices are usually high to begin with.

"The warehouse says we have more coming in, but that is among 500 stores, so it is hard to tell if we'll get any or not," Erb said.

Neither the Clearwater Market nor Ewing Family Foods stores stock baby formula, indicating it did not sell well and would expire.