Baby formula shortage worsens as FDA chief grilled

The baby formula shortage continues to worsen as baby formula makers and the head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration FDA face bipartisan grilling on what led to the national crisis.

The out-of-stock rate for baby formula went to 70% nationwide for the week ending May 22, according to recent data from retail data firm Datasembly. It's a significant increase from the week prior when the national out-of-stock rate for baby formula stood at 45%.

In April, the data showed that the situation is getting worse before it gets better, as it was underscoring how the situation is getting worse in early May.

Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis, Michigan facility, which exacerbated the industry-wide shortage, is expected to restart production June 4, meaning products from the plant won't return to store shelves until mid-July, according to the company's production timeline.

In February, Abbott temporarily shut down the plant and issued a recall for some of its formulas after the FDA detected positive samples of a rare-but- dangerous bacteria in multiple parts of the plant.

On Wednesday, FDA Commissioner Robert Califf was questioned by lawmakers about why the agency took months to inspect and shutter the plant despite learning of potential problems as early as September.

FDA staff began zeroing in at Abbott's plant last fall, while tracking several bacterial infections in infants who had consumed formula from the facility. The four cases occurred between September and January, causing hospitalizations and two deaths.

The agency hasn't yet reached a conclusion on whether bacteria from the plant caused the infant infections, although Abbott has said there is no direct evidence linking its products to the illnesses.

Abbott Vice President Christopher Calamari apologized to house lawmakers during questioning on Wednesday, but he didn't say anything about whether employees were disciplined or fired over the problems at the plant, which included standing water, a leaky roof and damaged equipment.

Calamari said we let you down. We are deeply sorry.