Baby formula shortage starting to affect Lethbridge parents
A baby formula shortage in the United States is starting to affect some families in Lethbridge.
"We are in a really tough situation because Luca can't have just any formula," said Charidy Spencer, whose five-month-old son has a milk protein allergy.
Spencer says she’s been to stores across the city looking for specialized formula, with many shelves out of stock. She says finding the specialized formula could be challenging even before the shortage, but now it’s nearly impossible.
"Hypoallergenic formulas, they taste terrible and they smell terrible, so when you find one that works, you don't want to have to switch," she said. "It's a terrible thing to go through."
Some brands of formula are still available, but more specialized options aren't.
In February, food safety issues forced the closure of the Michigan plant that supplies much of the special formula, which has caused a ripple effect across the board.
"It really was just a matter of time before the recall affected the Canadian market," said Sylvain Charlebois, director of agri-food analytics lab at Dalhousie University. "That's what we’re seeing right now."
According to Charlebois, there is a baby formula manufacturing plant in Kingston, Ont., but it’s foreign-owned and all of what it produces is shipped overseas.
"All of the production actually goes to China, and they're operating at a 60 per cent capacity, so one has to wonder whether that capacity is enough to support the Canadian market," he said.
Charlebois says the Abbott formula plant in Michigan could reopen in just a couple weeks, at which time it would take another four to six weeks to stabilize the supply.
Many stores are limiting the number of containers that can be purchased by a customer to counter the shortage.
With shelves becoming bare in Lethbridge, Spencer says she's trying to switch formulas, but pharmacists are cautioning against that move.
"Try not to change it, and if you want to change it, do not change it by yourself. Check with a pharmacist, we have extensive resources available to figure out what formula would fit best for their needs," said Vishal Sukhadiua, owner and pharmacist at The Medicine Shoppe.
Charlebois says the shortage is expected to continue until mid-June.
Spencer says while she has enough stock for the time being, she’ll continue to keep an eye out when visiting the grocery store as the uncertainty continues.
"We have friends and family looking all over Alberta for us. Everywhere from Medicine Hat up to Edmonton, basically, and all the way across," she said.
Health Canada says a potential shortage of sunflower oil could also have an affect on formula stock.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.