For several weeks, the United States has been facing a major shortage of baby milk: according to statistics, during the week of May 1 to 8, 2022, the stock available for purchase in the country was approximately 43% lower. at its usual level. The situation is particularly critical in the states of Delaware and Tennessee, where it is extremely difficult to find infant formula in stores today…
Several factors explain this shortage: firstly, the Covid-19 epidemic disrupted the production and delivery of products to the United States; two, a health scandal (which caused the death of two infants, etc.) led to the shutdown of the largest American production site; thirdly, the United States cannot really import infant formula since most foreign brands have not obtained authorization from the American health authorities.
75% of American babies are formula fed
To deal with this shortage (so serious that it has become the “one of the priorities” of US President Joe Biden), many parents are turning to do it yourself: thus, according to Google, searches for “homemade infant milk recipes” jumped by + 2400% between the months of April and May 2022. On social networks, a recipe seems to be popular: it consists of mixing water, condensed milk and glucose.
Making your own baby milk is a bad idea, however, according to theAmerican Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) : “these “homemade” preparations can harm your child’s health and/or not meet their nutritional needs: some babies fed with DIY milk have been hospitalized due to calcium deficiencies“. The American authorities also point out that cow’s milk and “vegetable milks” are not suitable for children under 1 year old.
If breastfeeding looks like an effective (and safe!) solution to this major shortage, few mothers breastfeed in the United States: “only” 20% give the breast during the first 6 months of life. 75% of newborns therefore depend on infant milk.
Read also :
- Infant milk: a father files a complaint against Lactalis
- Infant milk: the questions you really ask yourself
- Which milk to choose for baby?
