Baby Formula Arrives From Europe On Military Aircraft
In an effort to address the baby formula shortage in the U.S., 39 tons have arrived via a military plane from Europe.
According to CBS News, the first delivery arrived in Indianapolis on May 22. Indianapolis was selected because it is a distribution hub for Nestlé. The formula will be taken to Nestlé for standard quality control check before being sent to hospitals, pharmacies and doctor's offices.
More baby formula is expected to arrive in Pennsylvania.
Dubbed "Operation Fly Formula,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters, "Typically, the process to transport this product from Europe to U.S. would take two weeks. Thanks to Operation Fly Formula, we cut that down to approximately three days.”
She continued, "This is a testament of the president's commitment to pulling every lever to get more infant formula onto the market. And Operation Fly Formula is one tool that we are using to do so."
Brian Deese, director of the White House National Economic Council, told CNN's "State of the Union" that people should see "more formula in stores starting as early as this week” and the longer goal is to ensure “no individual company has this much control over supply chains."
On May 22, Biden invoked the Defense Production Act to allow Abbott and Reckitt, which also manufactures infant formula, to "add legally binding language to their orders with suppliers that will give them priority."
Biden tweeted, "Abbott can now receive priority orders of raw materials so they can quickly increase production by over one third where it stands today. Reckitt can now receive priority orders of consumables like filters which will allow their facilities to operate at maximum capacity."
According to The Washington Post, this formula shortage not only impacts the health of infants, but also that of older children and adults who suffer severe food allergies.
