Infant formula is scarce across the city, with most grocery store and pharmacy shelves empty or near-empty.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Medicine Hat is one of many communities which continues to be affected by the ongoing North American infant formula shortage, though health officials say the situation shows signs of improvement.
Temporary closure of Abbott Nutrition’s Michigan manufacturing facility in February of 2022, sparked a wide-spread shortage of infant formulas across the U.S. and Canada as demand exceeded supply.
While the facility did reopen in July of 2022, the roughly six-month pause in production has had long-term market effects, exasperated by ongoing production capacity limitations.
In its most recent update, Health Canada acknowledged the overall supply of infant formulas, regular and specialty, liquid and powdered, is not at normal levels – recognizing the concern likely felt by parents and caregivers.
Nevertheless, Health Canada stated it is continuing to work with formula manufacturers and retails to increase the nation’s supply and find suitable replacements for consumers.
Alberta Health is also working to monitor and address the shortage through collaboration with Health Canada, other Canadian jurisdictions, Alberta Health Services and community pharmacies, Scott Johnston, Alberta Ministry of Health press secretary, told the News.
Johnston also highlighted that the nation’s supply of specialty formulas is improving, while the supply of regular formulas, especially powdered formulas, is still facing challenges.
Formulas of all kinds are in short supply in Medicine Hat grocery stores and pharmacies.
The News visited eight retailers across the city Friday and found the majority of stores had little to no infant formula available, despite most having placed limits on the number of units customers can purchase.
The only brand of formula in stock at all retailers visited was Enfamil, produced by U.S. manufacturer Mead Johnson, and at most locations, the Enfamil products stocked were of a larger size variety and thus, more costly than out-of-stock products belonging to other brands.
Over the course of the shortage, formula prices have risen for most brands, including Enfamil, which is already known as one of the more costly formula options on the market.
(The average cost of Enfamil products in-stock locally was $45-$75.)
An employee at one of the pharmacies visited told the News their store has, for several months, been contacted daily by Hatters looking to purchase formula.
