(OR13-05-24) The 2022 U.S. Infant Formula Shortage: Affects on Infant Diet, Outcomes, and Consumer Behavior

Objectives: This project was designed to investigate infant feeding practices, outcomes, consumer behavior, and parental experience during the May 2022 United States infant formula shortage.

Methods: Two anonymous, electronic, cross-sectional, surveys were used to collect data from families from low-income communities prospectively and high-income communities retrospectively.

Results: In the prospective study of U.S. parents (n = 99), 75% of respondents were recipients of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women Infant Children (WIC) and the mean infant age during the shortage was 26.8 weeks. The number of respondents that used at least one unsafe infant feeding practice increased from 8% before to 48.5% during the shortage (p < 0.001). In the retrospective study of U.S. parents (n =187), 6% of respondents were recipients of WIC and the mean infant age during the shortage was 10 weeks. The number of respondents that used at least one unsafe infant feeding practice was low (2%) and did not change in response to the shortage. However, 81% of parents switched formulas during the shortage: 87% switched because they could not find the formula they typically used, 34% switched 3-5 times, 29% of parents visited ≥ 4 stores/24 hours and 26% of parents traveled >20 miles/24 hours to purchase formula. Infant formula use increased (p < 0.01)>; in infants requiring specialty formula, use of intact cow’s milk formula increased and premature infant formulas decreased (p < 0.05). Infants relying on specialty formulas experienced at least one undesirable outcome compared with non-specialty users. In both studies, parents used social media, relatives/friends, and healthcare providers for support during the shortage, but their helpfulness scores were suboptimal. Parents reported needs for greater infant formula availability, free prenatal lactation education and postpartum lactation support.

Conclusions: No matter their socioeconomic status, families experienced stress, reduced quality of life, and risks to their infant’s safety during the infant formula shortage. An overhaul to government, regulatory and healthcare policies are needed to protect the infant food system as well as best practice guidelines related to emergency preparedness for both parents and healthcare providers.

Funding Sources: Bobbie and UC Davis Chancellor’s Innovation Award (2020)