The US government has launched a criminal investigation into a baby formula plant that was at the center of a national shortage last year.
The Abbott Nutrition infant formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan was shut down in February 2022 over sanitation problems, causing a lengthy and widespread infant formula shortage, according to the New York Times.
The plant’s closure was a key cause of the infant formula shortage, forcing parents to seek formula from food banks, friends, and doctor’s offices. Production restarted in June.
Abbott spokesperson Scott Stoffel said via email that the company was “cooperating fully” with the Justice Department investigation, reports WTVR.com. but declined to provide further details.
The BBC is reporting that Abbott, one of the largest baby formula producers in the U.S., was forced to close the Michigan plant after the Food and Drug Administration began investigating four bacterial infections among infants who consumed powdered formula from the plant.
On further inspection, the FDA uncovered several violations at the plant, including bacterial contamination, a leaky roof, and lax safety protocols. The shutdown and recall worsened a nationwide formula shortage that was already a problem due to global supply chain issues during the coronavirus pandemic.
Abbott submitted a corrective action plan to the FDA last April, and shortly after agreed to take several actions to remedy the problem including hiring an independent expert to review its operations.
