The ongoing baby formula shortage across the United States has become more acute in recent weeks, despite the Biden administration importing millions of bottles worth of formula from across the globe over the past two months, the New York Post reported.
According to the market research firm IRI, 28.3 percent of powdered baby formula products were out of stock at stores in the United States for the week ending July 10, a higher percentage than the 23.7 percent reported out of stock for the week ending May 22, when the formula shortage dominated headlines in the country.
The most recent availability figure of baby formula in the U.S. was slightly improved from the previous week when the out-of-stock percentage stood at 29.5 percent; the highest figure recorded this year. By contrast, the normal out-of-stock range before the COVID-19 pandemic hovered between 5 percent and 7 percent.
American consumers face fewer choices when it comes to formula
In addition to less availability, American consumers are also facing a shortage of choices when it comes to what type of baby formula to buy. The Wall Street Journal cited IRI in its report last week, saying that as of July 3, American consumers were buying an average of 11 different formula products weekly, compared to 24 between 2018 and 2021.
KK Davey, the firm's president of client engagement, said in an interview that there are several reasons for the persistent baby formula shortage. These include manufacturers prioritizing certain formula packs and packaging at the expense of others, Americans buying smaller-sized containers when they go to the store, and hoarding by consumers.
Davey added that people had swung more to formula packs less than 16 ounces in the past four to six weeks than larger packs.
Joseph Antos, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said that by May, many mothers were very concerned about when they will see the brand of formula that is their favorite.
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Shortfall remains despite Operation Fly Formula airlifts
He added that when the brand of formula they wanted started to show up, instead of just buying one can or whatever amount a person would normally buy, people who had the money to afford it would purchase numerous cans of baby formula. According to Antos, that increased the baby formula shortage because a lot of that supply is now sitting on a shelf in many people's kitchens.
The shortfall remains despite the much-promoted Operation Fly Formula by the White House, in which the Pentagon is using its contracts with commercial airlines to bring precious cargo from places like Australia and Europe to boost supply in the United States.
The Biden administration said that as of July 17, it had dispatched 48 flights worldwide to retrieve foreign-made formula, with some also trucked into the United States from neighboring Mexico.
