Abbott Nutrition Halts Baby Formula Production Due To Flooding

Abbott Nutrition was forced to halt baby formula production at their Michigan plant because of flooding. The company said it stopped producing EleCare and other specialty and metabolic formulas after severe thunderstorms knocked out power and caused flood damage. After a months-long closure, Abbott Nutrition restarted the Sturgis plant less than two weeks ago.

“As a result, Abbott has stopped production of its EleCare specialty formula that was underway to assess the damage caused by the storm and clean and re-sanitize the plant,” the company said in a statement.

Fortunately, the company said the delay shouldn’t worsen the formula shortage. In addition, there was an “ample existing supply” of formula. They produced 8.7 million pounds of infant formula in June for the U.S. This represented 95% of Abbott’s output in the month before its February product recall and the Sturgis plant’s closure.

Abbott Nutrition Accounts For Majority of Powdered Formula Supply

This incident depicts the fragile nature of supply chain demands regarding formula. Only four companies have dominated the U.S. formula market in recent years. Furthermore, Abbott Nutrition produces 40% of the nation’s powdered formula, much of which comes from the Sturgis factory.