WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is once again challenging infant formula producers to ensure the safety of their products, aiming to alleviate the fears of parents nationwide. On Monday, he sent a letter to Reckitt/Mead Johnson, a formula producer, seeking answers about the recent recall of Nutramigen Powder, a specialty formula for infants with allergies.
This action comes less than two years after a massive infant formula recall that affected families across the country. “Parents of infants with allergies have enough on their plate without the extra burden of having to constantly check to see if their formula has been recalled,” said Senator Casey. “We need accountability from formula makers that they’re doing everything in their power to make sure this never happens again.”
Over the past two years, Senator Casey has been at the forefront of efforts to address and prevent infant formula shortages. In February 2022, he demanded answers from Abbott Nutrition about why the company delayed public warnings after complaints of bacterial contamination in its powder infant formula products. This contamination led to multiple hospitalizations and one death.
In April 2022, Senator Casey sought information from the FDA about their investigation into these reports and their plans to prevent further illnesses. He also raised concerns about a whistleblower report from inside Abbott that surfaced months before the first infant deaths were reported.
As families struggled to access infant formula following a massive recall in May 2022, Senator Casey and 30 of his colleagues wrote to the Infant Nutrition Council of America. They urged infant formula manufacturers to do everything possible to provide parents and families with the necessary formula.
Shortly after, Casey introduced the Protect Infants from Formula Shortages Act. This legislation requires manufacturers to notify the FDA of potential supply disruptions and gives the FDA additional tools to work with manufacturers to help prevent potential shortages. The bill advanced out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee as part of the bipartisan Food and Drug Administration Safety and Landmark Advancements Act.
In addition, in June 2022, as Chairman of the Senate HELP Subcommittee on Children and Families, Casey called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate potential price gouging by major retail chains during the nationwide infant formula shortage.
These ongoing efforts by Senator Casey highlight the importance of vigilance and accountability in the infant formula industry. As recalls continue to cause concern, it’s clear that further scrutiny of manufacturing practices and more stringent safety measures are necessary to protect the nation’s most vulnerable consumers — our infants.
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