Image: Reuters Berita 24 English - After the country recently modified its import restrictions to offset one of the worst infant formula sh...
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| Image: Reuters |
Fonterra and a2 Milk of New Zealand, as well as privately-owned Bellamy's Organic of Australia, said on Monday that they have submitted applications to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to provide baby food to the country.
This comes after Bubs Australia, a fellow Australian company, signed a deal with the FDA to supply at least 1.25 million cans of their formula. a2 Milk's stock rose more than 10%, while Bubs Australia's stock increased by 40%.
President Joe Biden tweeted on Friday, "I've got more excellent news: 27.5 million bottles of healthy infant formula manufactured by Bubs Australia are heading to the United States," according to a tweet https://twitter.com/POTUS/status/1530253441708314626.
"We're doing everything we can to get extra formula on the shelves as quickly as possible," said the company.
Abbott Laboratories, the largest U.S. provider of powder infant formula, including Similac, recalled dozens of brands in February after reports of serious bacterial illnesses in four newborns, causing a baby food shortage in the United States.
Abbott was on track to restore its crucial infant formula production in Michigan in one or two weeks, while FDA Commissioner Robert Califf informed legislators a week later that shop shelves across the country would not be restocked until July.
Fonterra, the world's largest dairy producer, said in an emailed statement, "In light of the present circumstances and revised FDA instructions, we have submitted an application to the FDA for clearance to distribute completed infant formula to parents in the United States."
Emergency supplies from Europe arrived earlier this week after the Biden administration opted to loosen import limits to address statewide shortages.
