"130,000 Won per Can of Formula"…The Worst Baby Formula Shortage in the US Due to COVID-19 Impact

Breastfeeding Rates Among U.S. Mothers
Plunge from 34% in 2020 to 14% This Year

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] Due to the decrease in breastfeeding caused by COVID-19, the United States is reportedly experiencing the worst formula shortage in history.

According to the American daily The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the population consulting firm 'Demographic Intelligence' estimated, based on a recent survey, that the breastfeeding rate among American mothers plummeted from 34% in 2020 to 14% this year. Due to the small sample size used in the analysis, the margin of error is relatively large at ±6 percentage points.

However, it is undeniable that the steady increase in breastfeeding over the past decade has sharply reversed into a decline.

The research institute explained, "Due to COVID-19, the hospital stay period for mothers has shortened, and there have been cases where mothers were discharged before the baby latched on." They also cited reduced contact time between mothers and babies due to infection concerns, as well as staff reductions such as the dismissal or reassignment of lactation consultants, as causes for the decline in breastfeeding.

Nicole Snyder, who gave birth to a son in Kansas City last September, also tried to breastfeed her premature baby while he was in the neonatal intensive care unit, but it was difficult due to COVID-19. Additionally, family visits to the hospital were prohibited, which increased Snyder's stress and sense of isolation, and her milk supply gradually decreased. Ultimately, she chose formula instead of breast milk.

The reduced opportunities for parents of infants and young children to receive support from family, relatives, and the community also made breastfeeding more difficult. Diane Spatz, a professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, said, "Parents who want to breastfeed absolutely need a support network, but COVID-19 has made that difficult."

Professor Spatz cited data from Philadelphia's largest pediatric care center, stating, "The decline in breastfeeding was steeper among low-income families and families of color."

A formula milk shelf at an American supermarket.
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

This decline in breastfeeding has led the United States into the worst formula shortage crisis. On the 28th (local time), Bloomberg News cited market analysis firm 'Data Assembly' reporting that 70% of formula products distributed nationwide were out of stock as of the 21st.

In Houston, the out-of-stock rate was the highest at 90%. Bloomberg reported that in 10 major metropolitan areas including San Francisco (87%), Sacramento (86%), Las Vegas (84%), and St. Louis (82%), the out-of-stock rate exceeded 80%, making it nearly impossible to find formula.

As the situation worsened, 'formula hoarding' even occurred. Last mid-month, Walmart and Costco limited purchases to 3-4 cans per person at a time, and on online marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, many sellers raised prices threefold to sell formula, according to major foreign media reports.

A 30-year-old housewife in the U.S. expressed dissatisfaction to major foreign media, saying, "My baby needs special formula due to allergies, and the price has skyrocketed. Eight cans of formula were traded for $800 on eBay." That amounts to $100 per can, approximately 130,000 KRW.

As a result, some mothers have started researching and preparing homemade infant formula. However, The New York Times (NYT) reported, "Experts warn that homemade formula made from store-bought ingredients can cause various problems such as nutrient deficiencies." The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also reported cases of children hospitalized with low calcium after consuming homemade formula.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government is accelerating efforts to normalize formula supply by importing large quantities from neighboring countries.

According to the British daily The Guardian, the U.S. plans to import 1.25 million cans of formula from the Australian formula company 'Bubs Australia' soon.

U.S. President Joe Biden said that the amount supplied by Bubs Australia is enough to fill 27.5 million baby bottles and stated, "We are doing everything possible to supply more formula as quickly as possible."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.