Due to a historic recall of some forms of infant formula, there is now a nationwide shortage. As the nation grapples with the immediate and present impact of this emergency, we need to do everything we can to support infant food security, including ensuring access to lactation support, supplies, and accommodations, donor milk, and infant formula. Organizations and agencies from across the nation are mobilizing in response to the shortage, offering support according to the scope, stance, and capacity within their reach. A robust infrastructure to support infant and young child feeding in emergencies includes both inventories and sharing of available commercial milk formula and lactation support and resources in every community. We will get through this immediate situation together and build forward from here.

Resources & Statements

• The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine
  • "ABM Statement on Shortage of Breastmilk substitutes"
• HealthyChildren.org (from American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • "With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can't find any?"
• International Lactation Consultant Association
  • Commercial Milk Formula Shortage shareable social media graphics
• USBC-Affiliated Infant & Young Child Feeding Constellation
  • Joint Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies (IYCF-E) in the U.S.
    Published May 2022
  • Joint Statement on Infant and Young Child Feeding in the Context of COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States 
    Published August 2020
• U.S. Breastfeeding Committee
  • The Four Pillars of Infant Nutrition Security in the United States
  • Comprehensive Policy Solutions to Address the Infant Formula Shortage
• United States Lactation Consultant Association
  • "Navigating the US Formula Shortage: A Safe Approach"
    
• WIC Works Resource System
  
  • Nutrition Assessment During a Formula Shortage
    

Throughout its history, the U.S. Breastfeeding Committee has worked to ensure food security for our nation's infants by addressing gaps in the policy landscape with policy, systems, and environmental change solutions that include building an infrastructure for infant and young child feeding in emergencies. We remain committed to this cause and will continue to curate and amplify resources from the field and for the field to equip you to best support the families you serve. ​