Central ND News

U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at preventing future infant formula shortages. This initiative responds to bacterial contaminations at a Michigan infant formula manufacturing plant, which resulted in the deaths of nine infants and led to recalls that triggered a nationwide shortage in 2022.

The proposed legislation seeks to enhance U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of infant formula manufacturing, aiming to secure the U.S. supply and ensure safe access for American families. As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, Hoeven recently discussed this priority with FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, securing his support for the bill.

"American families shouldn’t have to worry about the safety and availability of something as vital as baby formula," said Senator Hoeven. "The recent formula shortage caused unnecessary stress for parents and families, which is why we are introducing this bipartisan legislation. Our bill makes important reforms, including requiring that harmful contaminants found during testing be quickly reported to the FDA, and making sure the FDA acts timely to work with companies to resolve the situation, preventing shortages and better ensuring families have access to safe infant formula."

Senator Peters echoed these sentiments: "Parents need to know with absolute certainty that the formula they’re buying for their babies is safe. As a parent myself, I’m heartbroken for those parents who lost their children, and I’m committed to making sure something like this never happens again. This commonsense bill would allow the FDA to test infant formula for dangerous contaminants before it hits the shelves to protect our kids and prevent another nationwide shortage like the recent one that put many families in unthinkable situations where they had to scramble to both find and afford infant formula."

The Protect Infant Formula from Contamination Act (PIFCA) proposes a three-pronged approach designed specifically to mitigate risks associated with Cronobacter sakazakii bacteria contamination—a key factor in past fatalities and recalls.