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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE (TV)
HEADLINE: Baby Formula Shortage in the US Challenges Families
TEASER: Stores are stocking about 43% less baby formula than usual, according to Datasembly
PUBLISHED AT: 05/13/2022 at 7:13 pm
BYLINE: LAUREL BOWMAN
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: WASHINGTON, DC
VIDEOGRAPHER:
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MPage, Holly Franko
VIDEO SOURCE (S):
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _x_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:30
VID APPROVED BY:
TYPE: TVPKG
UPDATE:))
((INTRO))
[[One of the three companies that make baby formula in the U.S. has halted production, adding to what was already a baby formula shortage due to supply chain issues and other factors. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it is doing everything in its power to ensure that an adequate supply of the product is available. And even the White House says it’s taking steps to alleviate the crisis. VOA’s Laurel Bowman has more.]]
((NARRATOR))
Valerie Farnsworth is one of innumerable American moms now dealing with a severe shortage of baby formula. Her 5-month-old son, Harrison, has an allergy and can’t tolerate breast milk, so she feeds him a specialty formula.
((Valerie Farnsworth, Mom))
“Not only can we not find it but when we do find it, there’s always a 20 percent mark-up on it.”
((NARRATOR))
For over a year, the U.S. has suffered from a baby formula shortage … supply chain snags stoked the crisis, which was made worse when one of three companies that manufacture formula closed shop following a massive product recall. As of now, stores in the U.S. are stocking 43% less baby formula than normal, according to Datasembly.
This has mothers going from store to store looking for the product. Jordan Beltran couldn’t produce milk for her first child, and she’s afraid it will be the same with her second.
((Jordan Beltran, Mom))
“What if I can’t produce milk, and I need formula? Yesterday I went to Walmart and I just saw one can and I thought I should just buy it to be safe.”
((NARRATOR))
Experts remind us that for babies on formula, there’s no other food option.
[[For radio only: Rudolph Leuschner is a professor who teaches supply-chain theory at the Rutgers University Business School.]]
((Rudolf Leuschner, Supply Chain Management Associate Professor))
“And I think we have to probably reevaluate what critical infrastructure really means. So, for example, we're keeping a strategic supply of crude oil and petroleum, but do we have critical strategic supplies of food items, baby formula?”
((NARRATOR))
The White House today was on defense, saying they have not failed to act.
[[For radio only: Jen Psaki is the White House press secretary.]]
((Jen Psaki, White House Press Secretary))
“And then we’ve been working with manufacturers. And that has resulted in Gerber increasing production by 50 percent and Reckitt increasing production by 30 percent and over the last four weeks more production of formula than there was in the four weeks prior.”
((NARRATOR))
Meantime, doctors are warning parents not to make formula off internet recipes or buy it randomly online.
[[For radio only: Dr. Victoria Regan is a pediatrician with Children’s Memorial Hermann.]]
((Dr. Victoria Regan, Pediatrician))
“You are not always one hundred percent sure what you are getting is the real product. They can tamper with the container … put something else in there.”
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says it will announce next week how manufacturers abroad can import their products into the U.S. Rules for doing so have been notoriously strict.
((Laurel Bowman, VOA News, Washington))
NewsML Media TopicsHealth
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateMay 13, 2022 20:26 EDT
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
