May 20, 2022 - News

North Carolina's infant formula crisis grows

Percentage of baby formula out of stock in <span style="color: white; background-color:#ff7900; padding: 2px 4px; margin-right:3px; white-space: nowrap;">North Carolina</span>and <span style="color: white; background-color:#1085df; padding: 2px 4px; margin-right:3px; white-space: nowrap;">U.S.</span>

North Carolina's infant formula shortage mirrors the growing crisis across the country, with nearly 47% of baby formula out of stock in stores in the state.

Why it matters: A majority of North Carolina babies rely on formula in their first six months of life, according to the CDC.

  • With the stock available in the state sliced in half, that means thousands of babies could be going hungry.

What's happening: The U.S. House passed a $28 million emergency spending bill to give the Food and Drug Administration more staff to speed up inspections of baby formula before it hits the shelves.

  • Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ted Budd voted against the legislation Wednesday. He voted in favor of a second formula-related bill, however, known as the Access to Baby Formula Act.
  • The bill removes some regulations during the crisis for families who receive federal assistance to buy formula.

The big picture: The shortage, driven by problems with production, is also highlighting America's dependence on infant formula, Axios' Tina Reed writes.

Read more: Baby formula shortage puts spotlight on how America feeds its young

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