President Biden announced on Wednesday, August 3, that his administration is sourcing two flights, facilitated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), for Operation Fly Formula to transport Danone's Aptamil Gold Plus Stage 1 infant formula from New Zealand to Chicago, Illinois on August 8 and 11.
According to the White House, these formula deliveries will include approximately 332,000 pounds of Aptamil Gold Plus Stage 1, equivalent to 4.3 million 8-ounce bottles. These products will be distributed through top retailers in the United States.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in May that the agency is exercising enforcement discretion so Danone can import additional infant formula, including Aptamil First Infant Milk Stage 1, Aptamil Gold Plus Stage 1, and Neocate Infant DHA/ARA.
Operation Fly Formula provides huge help to American families
Danone is currently importing approximately 38 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents into the American market, including their Aptamil baby formula from New Zealand and Ireland. The commander-in-chief launched Operation Fly Formula to speed up the import of infant formula and start getting more formula to stores in the U.S. as soon as possible.
Under Operation Fly Formula, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the General Services Administration (GSA), the HHS, and the Department of Defense (DOD) are partnering to pick up overseas infant formula that meets U.S. health and safety standards so that it can get to hospitals, home healthcare providers, and store shelves faster. Operation Fly Formula has transported nearly 64 million 8-ounce bottle equivalents to the United States.
The Biden Administration also has taken several other necessary actions to ensure there is enough safe baby formula for families, including entering into a consent agreement between the FDA and Abbott Nutrition to reopen the company's Michigan facility, invoking the Defense Production Act, and issuing FDA guidance so that major formula manufacturers can safely import formula that is not currently being produced for the American market.
WIC benefits extended through the end of September
The USDA told states late last week that it would continue to cover the cost of non-contract infant formula to give families that receive WIC (Women, Infants and Children) benefits flexibility to purchase alternate sizes, forms, or formula brands. According to the agency, the benefit will continue through the end of September.
Geraldine Henchy, the director of nutrition policy for the nonprofit Food Research & Action Center in Washington, told CNN that although the extension is good news for American families, it indicates that they still believe that action is necessary.
About half of the baby formula in the United States is purchased through the WIC program, and those families continue to be disproportionately affected by the ongoing shortage.
