Just last month, the U.S. was laboring under the grip of a crushing baby formula shortage, one that was exacerbated by the long-term closure of the country's largest formula production plant:
That plant reopened earlier this month, and things have gotten a little bit better since then—but all of that may be coming to an at-least-temporary end:
Abbott has stopped production of EleCare formula in its Sturgis, Michigan, plant after severe storms led to flooding inside the plant, the company said, probably delaying production of new formula for a few weeks.
Production at the plant had restarted less than two weeks ago following a months-long closure that helped drive a nationwide formula shortage.
"Severe thunderstorms and heavy rains came through southwestern Michigan on Monday evening, resulting in high winds, hail, power outages and flood damage throughout the area," Abbott said in a statement Wednesday night. "These torrential storms produced significant rainfall in a short period of time -- overwhelming the city's stormwater system in Sturgis, Mich., and resulting in flooding in parts of the city, including areas of our plant."
I mean...these guys. These frickin guys, right?
You're telling me there isn't some engineer or something hanging around Sturgis that couldn't see to this place staying open amid "severe thunderstorms?" This is literally a matter of national security!
Here's the worst part:
Abbott said that once the plant is re-sanitized and production resumes, it will restart EleCare production, followed by specialty and metabolic formulas. New formula being produced since the plant reopened was not yet available to consumers, and production had not started on popular brands available at grocery stores. Abbott said it will "work to restart Similac production at the plant as soon as possible."
They haven't even gotten the new stuff out yet??
Get your act together, Abbott!
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