The company, which had to close a factory in Michigan, aggravated the supply problems encountered by millions of American families.
Le Monde with AFP
The CEO of the Baby Milk Manufacturer Abbott apologized on Saturday, May 21, its apologies to American families affected by the shortage of this vital product for infants, which was aggravated by the closure of a group of the group in the States- United. “We are sorry for all the families that we have abandoned since our voluntary recall exacerbated the shortage of natural milk in our country,” said the group’s boss, Robert Ford, in the Washington Post .
The United States has been experiencing a shortage of baby milk for several months, caused by supply and labor problems linked to COVVI-19, then aggravated by the closure, in February, of a factory Abbott in Michigan, after a recall of products suspected of having caused the death of two infants. “It’s tragic and heartbreaking,” said Ford.
He also reported on the establishment by the group, for families of hospitalized children after consuming this milk, of a “$ 5 million fund”.
lines production converted
Regarding the shortage, Abbott claims to have “taken serious measures”, such as the conversion of production lines for adult products in the Columbus factory (Ohio) “in order to give priority to production” for milk for baby. The group also imports milk from its Irish factory. And after an agreement with the American justice, which must still be validated by a judge, the Michigan factory should reopen within two weeks.
Thus, “by the end of June, we will provide more natural milk to the Americans than in January before the recall,” said Abbott CEO. “Finally, we make important investments so that it never happens again,” he promised.
Joe Biden signed a law on Saturday that allows you to circumvent certain regulatory requirements “so that people can more easily access the baby preparations they need,” he said in a tweet.
He announced on Wednesday the establishment of an air bridge and the use of a law dating from the Cold War to try to resolve this shortage, which has become a political headache for its administration. A White House official announced on Friday a first flight, carrying 132 palettes of milk from the Nestlé brand, this weekend between Germany and Indianapolis (Indiana).