Infant Formula Crisis Resources

We are currently facing an infant formula crisis. There is a severe shortage of formula, and children are going hungry. ALL babies deserve to be safely and adequately fed. As the United States grapes with this crisis, we know that Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities facing marginalization may be particularly affected by this crisis. 

HealthConnect One is an advocate for chest/breastfeeding and actively supports promoting First Food Equity through peer-to-peer support. However, we cannot ignore that there are families with social, economic, and physical barriers that prevent them from exclusively breastfeeding/chestfeeding their babies.

We recognize the deep racial disparities in advancing breastfeeding intention, initiation, and duration. We recognize the importance of access to peer-to-lactation support that can help parents who may be interested in relactation or accessing milk banks. Ultimately, we realize that what parents need right now is information on how to get their baby fed safely, without SHAME.  

We hope to provide information to families who need to feed their babies during this formula crisis.

Shareable Graphics and Toolkits

→ Breastfeeding USA graphic Tips for the Formula Shortage 

Factsheets & Advisories

→ White House FACT SHEET: President Biden Announces Additional Steps to Address Infant Formula Shortage

→ Health and Human Services Fact Sheet: Helping Families Find Formula During the Infant Formula Shortage 

• Also available in Spanish here. 

→ FDA Advisory to Not Make or Feed Homemade Infant Formula to Infants

→ Questions & Answers for Consumers Concerning Infant Formula

→ Abbott Recall Notice: U.S./Puerto Rico

Resources

→ United Way’s 2-1-1 dial 2–1-1 to be connected to a community resource specialist affiliated with United Way who may be able to help you identify food pantries and other charitable sources of local infant formula and baby food.

→ Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA): certain HMBANA-accredited milk banks distribute donated breast milk to mothers in need; please note that some may require a prescription from a medical professional. Find an HMBANA-accredited milk bank

→ HealthChildren.Org: With the baby formula shortage, what should I do if I can’t find any?

Take Action

→ Donate cans of liquid formula to places like pediatricians’ offices, Head Start Centers, and Churches so that these items can get directly in the hands of folk who need it most.

→ Sign a Petition to President Biden to Take Action to Address the Formula Emergency