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Major retailers imposing limits on infant formula impact local families

By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com
By Gina Esposito, wsoctv.com

More major retailers are imposing limits on infant formula due to a shortage.

In March, mother Stephanie Mollen, of Fort Mill, took a photo of bare shelves in the baby aisle at the Target in Rock Hill.

Target is one of many stores with limits, making it harder for parents to find food for their babies.

“Honestly‚ I felt bad doing this but it got to the point where I would go in, then send my husband in. Our nanny went in, and we just had to do it,” Mollen said. “One point they went on donated breast milk.”

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Mollen said her twin sons go through two bottles of ready-to-eat Similac Alimentum daily. She said the limits only allow her to buy enough to last a few days.

“They’re eating something because they are growing like crazy,” she said.

Stephanie Mollen's sons Stephanie Mollen's sons (WSOC)

Channel 9′s Gina Esposito checked and found other major retailers were setting limits, even online. Those stores include CVS, Walmart, Target and Amazon.

Esposito said that when she tried to add more than four bottles to her cart, a messages popped up saying she couldn’t add more than four.

Major retailers imposing limits on infant formula impact local families (WSOC)

A University of North Carolina at Charlotte professor, Moutaz Khouja, said families should see more products on the shelves this summer.

“I will say, we won’t go into the fall. I don’t anticipate it will be that long. I do believe some retailers have to do some restrictions on how much families can buy for a while,” Khouja said.

He said the shortage was caused by supply chain issues, which worsened in February when Abbott recalled millions of products.

ALSO READ: FDA warns against using 3 powdered baby formulas linked to infections

It’s an issue Channel 9 has been covering for months, impacting thousands of families in our area.

Mollen is thankful her 10-month-old sons will be off formula soon.

“I’m trying to ride it out and they might end up going on dairy milk earlier because this is such an ordeal,” she said.

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services said the state WIC offices have been helping families by placing orders directly with the manufacturer. However, the department admits that the direct orders may also be impacted by supply chain issues.

(WATCH BELOW: What parents need to know about baby formula shortage)

What parents need to know about baby formula shortage (NCD)


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