Blue states are cornering that market. And you all thought the SCOTUS decision favored the right! 4D chess at its finest.
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I’d rather have the gun market cornered.
Fair trade.
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I don’t think overturning Roe v. Wade will affect formula supply much, considering it doesn’t stop states from allowing abortions. I think having an increase in population growth within the US is probably a good thing considering historical trends…
Yeah yeah yeah, I know - we’re “overpopulating” the planet. Blame the countries with a billion+ people first before pointing the finger back at ourselves.
Note to Abbott, if you are going to try to go toe to toe with FDA, make sure you hire a really good statistician. Abbott’s response on this is a joke.
Opened formula containers from three of the four sick infants were tested, and only one tested positive for Cronobacter sakazakii . While the contamination in the one positive formula container matched the strain of C. sakazakii infecting the infant, it did not match any strains identified in the Sturgis facility. Lastly, Abbott notes that the four sick infants all consumed different types of formula produced in its Sturgis plant, and their illnesses occurred at different times in separate states. It’s unclear why that matters, but Abbott concluded that contamination at the plant did not cause the illnesses.
“The other thing we’ve heard emphasized quite a bit is that these products have been tested” and most tested negative for C. sakazakii , Yiannas said. But that also is not meaningful. Some of the end batches of formula are 400,000 to 500,000 pounds, but the end-product testing plans only involve a series of 30 samples that are 10 grams each, collectively less than a pound, Yiannas said. “The probability of detecting low levels of contamination through an end-product testing plan—it’s almost never going to happen,” he said. “Some statisticians calculate there’s a 97 percent chance that you won’t find low levels of contamination using that type of sampling plan.”
Overall, he said, “an over-reliance on end-product testing is not really the best way to assure food safety; it’s really about process control.”
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GOP Rep Who Outed Biden for Border Shipment Votes Against Baby Formula Bill (msn.com)
192 GOP reps voted against this bill.
Based on their actions, it seems the GOP is all for this supply shortage, so they can complain and blame.
That is probably some of it or a lot of it, but let us also be honest.
It was probably also a shit bill with god knows what in it.
Beat me too it. Doesn’t seem controversial, and was only 28 mil.
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was literally about to post the actual bill and then @tareload posted it lol.
It worded extremely vaguely and would do virtually nothing to help the shortage. The bill itself was created to do nothing more than show that the dems are doing something, no matter how ineffective that something is.
Seems like a typical democrat response tbh
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First, parents receiving WIC [Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children] assistance are allowed to choose only certain brands. Second, consumers must pay a 17.5 percent tariff on any imported formula, which prices countless brands out of the U.S. market. It’s a nice arrangement for the companies—and for their lobbyists—but it raises prices for families and makes it difficult to boost supplies during shortages.
When new formulas enter the market, regulations forbid sellers from letting anyone know about them for 90 days, even as manufacturers may advertise existing formulas all they like. Those first months on the shelf are make-or-break for many new products, which is why existing producers like this otherwise pointless regulation. At times like this, parents might appreciate hearing about new options.
One of those options is toddler formula, which in many cases meets the Food and Drug Administration’s nutritional requirements for infant formula. However, FDA regulations prohibit many manufacturers from recommending this option.
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U.S. Customs recently seized nearly 600 cases of formula from Germany and the Netherlands over labeling requirements. The agency’s self-congratulatory press release reads as though it had made a major drug bust, lauding its and the FDA’s “collective efforts to help keep our citizens safe.”
Human nutritional requirements do not change across political borders. If a formula is safe and nutritious for babies in Germany or the Netherlands or any other country, then it will be for American babies, too. A system of mutual recognition, whereby regulators in countries with comparable standards automatically approve one another’s decisions, would go a long way to help address and prevent shortages of baby formula and myriad other products — at least after they pay tariffs.
When policies fail, the right thing to do is get rid of them. But instead, politicians might be about to make new ones.
President Joe Biden is considering using the Defense Production Act, an emergency wartime powers law, to direct baby formula production from Washington. At least eight senators are interested in potential antitrust action against the industry, which is concentrated in a few companies largely because of government regulations.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants legislation increasing Washington’s role in supply chain management. The House Oversight Committee is looking at price gouging regulation, which would be counterproductive. Many Republicans are invoking conspiracy theories and blaming foreigners who would likely be happy to help, if regulations allowed it.
Regulations are why the formula shortage is so bad, but politicians are blaming the market instead. Blaming greedy markets is good for grandstanding and campaigning, but there isn’t much of a free market to point to when it comes to baby formula. The one healthy response so far is Sen. Mike Lee’s FORMULA Act, which would allow WIC parents to choose their formula brand, roll back tariffs and enact mutual recognition with trusted allies.
When a recall or a shortage happens, parents would have far more options in a free market than in the current regulatory mess of cronyism and protectionism. The only losers would be incumbent producers, their lobbyists and politicians in search of another way to grandstand on the campaign trail.
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But who’d fight? Leftie soy boys?
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They’d be fine if there was a civil war. They could just retreat into their safe spaces anytime something came by to hurt their feelings.
If you’re interested in this topic though, @BrickHead created a thread all about it.
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There is literally nothing there addressing anything other than hey here is $28M to uhhh address this issue and uhhh do stuff.
Cool thx.
I would have voted, NO, too.
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No, politicians protecting special interests and profits over the people they represent?
Never.
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What is the real cause of the shortage of infant formula?
I am curious if there is a huge shortage, how come companies aren’t switching gears and cranking up production as some did with the mask fiasco
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I think it may be several things. @tareload posted some of them.
Only a few suppliers.
Regulations that keep it only a few suppliers, and also likely overly stringent requirements (tareload mentioned toddler formula likely being a substitute good, but not being able to be marketed that way). Also, not allowing equivalent imports, or placing heavy taxes on those products.
Supply shortages of the ingredients needed.
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FDA stands in the way
COVID shutdowns
Biden addressing issues too late
Republicans also stand in the way
Democrats not doing anything
I know, i am just rambling and making all this up, 
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