Abbott restarts Similac infant formula production at Michigan facility

(Corrects time-frame eighth paragraph to July from earlier this month)

(Reuters) -Abbott Laboratories has restarted manufacturing of its Similac toddler method on the plant in Sturgis, Michigan on the heart of the U.S. child method scarcity.

Abbott, the most important U.S. provider of child method, in February recalled Similac and different toddler method merchandise produced on the Michigan facility after reviews of bacterial infections in infants who had consumed merchandise that originated there.

The plant shutdown and subsequent product recall deepened a provide scarcity in a nation the place lower than half of infants are solely breast-fed by means of their first three months, based on federal knowledge from 2020.

To handle the intense scarcity, U.S. well being regulators relaxed import insurance policies and flew in tens of millions of cans of emergency provides from corporations reminiscent of Nestle SA and Reckitt Benckiser

Abbott briefly reopened the Michigan plant early final month, however needed to shutter it once more after about two weeks as a result of injury attributable to heavy rains and flooding.

Abbott, in an announcement on Friday, mentioned as Similac enters into manufacturing, it is going to take about six weeks for the product to start delivery to retail places.

“We all know that the nationwide toddler method scarcity has been troublesome for the households we serve, and whereas restarting Similac manufacturing in Michigan is a crucial milestone, we received’t relaxation till this product is again on cabinets,” Abbott Chief Government Robert Ford mentioned in an announcement.

In July, the corporate mentioned it expects to start releasing EleCare method from its Sturgis plant after manufacturing of it and different specialty formulation restarted final month.

The corporate additionally mentioned it will prolong rebates supplied on aggressive merchandise till Oct. 31 for contributors within the authorities’s Girls, Infants, and Youngsters (WIC) program in states the place Abbott holds the contract if Similac is unavailable.

(Reporting by Akriti Sharma in Bengaluru; Modifying by Invoice Berkrot)