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Topic Title: Baby formula shortage: Former FDA official rips Biden for 'smoke and mirrors' response
Topic Summary: Fuck Joe Biden!
Created On: 05/19/2022 07:44 AM
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 05/19/2022 07:44 AM
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Fish Killer

Posts: 71439
Joined Forum: 10/09/2005

Baby formula shortage: Former FDA official rips Biden for 'smoke and mirrors' response
Peter Pitts warned there has 'never been a shortage' before on 'Fox & Friends First'
By Bailee Hill

The baby formula crisis has parents in a panic, and some critics are warning President Biden hasn't acted fast enough to reverse the shortages.

Former FDA associate commissioner Peter Pitts ripped President Biden's decision to invoke the Defense Production Act over the crisis, arguing there has "never been a shortage" on "Fox & Friends First."


"It's tough talk," Pitts told co-host Todd Piro. "It's smoke and mirrors, and it's insulting to American parents. You know what makes up baby formula? Rice starch, corn syrup and protein concentrate from cows' milk. Commodities. There's no shortage. Never been a shortage."

"So the Defense Production Act, it's just smoke and mirrors," he continued. "It's insulting. American parents want to know when the problem is going to be solved, not soundbites that are ridiculous from the outset."

BABY FORMULA SHORTAGE BILLS PASS HOUSE AMID GOP CLAIMS DEMS ARE 'COVERING UP' THE REAL PROBLEM

Biden invoked the Defense Production Act on Wednesday in order to mitigate the baby formula crisis, authorizing the Department of Defense to pick up formula overseas.

The move also aims to ensure companies have the necessary ingredients to expedite additional formula production.

"They should have talked to retail outlets to make sure there was no hoarding or panic buying, and then been transparent and truthful, with American parents throughout the process," Pitts said. "But they didn't do that."

Baby formula supply has plummeted 40% in recent weeks, causing parents to panic as store shelves remain empty.

Pitts insisted the White House should have acted sooner, educating parents on the current situation and what the FDA was doing to mitigate it.

"There was no confirmed commissioner at the FDA at the time, but it took the president a year to get a FDA commissioner to the Senate, and he was confirmed on the first vote," Pitts said. "So there was no blocking of the nomination."

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The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
 05/19/2022 10:00 AM
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dingpatch

Posts: 19032
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BABY FORMULA INDUSTRY SUCCESSFULLY LOBBIED TO WEAKEN BACTERIA SAFETY TESTING STANDARDS

The current formula shortage is traced in part to a contamination-induced shutdown at a key manufacturing plant.

Lee FangLee Fang
May 13 2022, 2:38 p.m.

THE ABBOTT NUTRITION facility in Sturgis, Michigan, which produces much of the U.S. supply of baby formula, shut down in February, bringing production lines to a grinding halt. Following a voluntary recall and investigation by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the stoppage stemmed from a bacterial outbreak whose effects would be felt months later. Starting last September, five babies who had consumed the plant's formula contracted bacterial infections. Two of them died.

The production pause is now contributing to a national shortage of formula, a crisis that experts believe will continue for months. Abbott, however, disputes that there is any link between its formula and the infant illnesses.

Questions are now swirling about alleged problems at the Abbott-owned factory, which produces popular brands such as Similac, Alimentum, and EleCare. A recently disclosed whistleblower document claims that managers at the Sturgis plant falsified reports, released untested infant formula, and concealed crucial safety information from federal inspectors.

But eight years earlier, the formula industry rejected an opportunity to take a more proactive approach - not only for increasing supply capacity, but also for preventing a potential outbreak. Records show that the industry successfully mobilized against a 2014 proposal from the FDA to increase regular safety inspections of plants used to manufacture baby formula.

At the time, the FDA had proposed rules to prevent the adulteration of baby formula in any step of the process in order to prevent contamination from salmonella and Cronobacter sakazakii, which led to this year's Sturgis plant shutdown.

The largest infant formula manufacturers quickly stepped up to delay the safety proposals. The International Formula Council, now known as the Infant Nutrition Council of America, is the lobby group that represents Abbott Nutrition (owned by Abbott Laboratories), Gerber (owned by Nestlé), Perrigo Co., and Reckitt Benckiser Group, the companies that control 89 percent of the baby formula market in the U.S.

In March 2014, the group wrote to FDA officials to request additional time to respond to the proposed rules. The agency, the industry claimed, had used a cost-benefit analysis that "overestimates the expected annual incidence of Cronobacter infection" using "outdated data." The formula representatives asked for an additional 30 to 45 days.

"We feel the agency and the industry would benefit from this additional time," wrote Mardi Mountford, an official with the International Formula Council.

That June, after months of deliberation, the FDA released a new interim final proposal that incorporated some of the industry concerns. The rules reduced the frequency of stability testing for new infant formulas from every three months to every four months. The FDA also provided a number of exemptions for manufacturers, allowing them to shirk testing requirements if the "new infant formula will likely not differ from the stability of formulas with similar composition, processing, and packaging for which there are extensive stability data."

Later that year, the lobby group petitioned the FDA to revisit the safety manufacturing rule with even lower standards, including fewer inspections. In a letter to regulators, Mountford wrote that compliance costs would reach slightly over $20 million a year, including increased personnel and lab fees. "The IFC believes that the additional requirements for end of shelf-life testing under the Final Rule are unnecessary and burdensome and do not provide any additional public health benefit," Mountford wrote in the September 2014 request. "Based on the frequency of manufacture and store inventories," the letter noted, "virtually all infant formula is consumed early in its shelf-life (consumers typically purchase and use infant formula between 3 and 9 months after manufacture and do not stockpile infant formula at home)."

The Infant Nutrition Council of America did not respond to a request for comment from The Intercept.

As critics have noted, the formula industry had wide latitude to expand production and increase spending on safety standards. Abbott last year announced that it had spent $5 billion purchasing its own stock.

Abbott Nutrition has declined to inform other outlets whether additional cases of Cronobacter have been identified.

Following publication of this story, a spokesperson for Abbott provided a statement disputing the whistleblower allegations.

"This former employee was dismissed due to serious violations of Abbott's food safety policies. After dismissal, the former employee, through their attorney, has made evolving, new and escalating allegations to multiple authorities. Abbott is reviewing this new document and will thoroughly investigate any new allegations," said the Abbott spokesperson.

The spokesperson also provided a statement regarding the Abbott's trade group lobbying efforts. The International Formula Council's efforts, said the spokesperson, do "not align with Abbott's actual past or current practices with regards to testing for Cronobacter sp. Abbott has been conducting finished product testing for Cronobacter sp. in our powdered manufacturing facilities long before the Infant Formula Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) rule requiring this testing was finalized. Additionally, Abbott has always tested for Cronobacter sp. at more than twice the sample size (volume) that FDA requires in 21 CFR Part 106."

The company on its website claims that there is "is no evidence to link our formulas" to the recent wave of infant illnesses."

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce is scheduled to hold a hearing on May 25 to investigate.

The Abbott whistleblower allegation was sent to the FDA and Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., in October 2021 and made public last month. DeLauro has demanded that regulators move swiftly in obtaining answers from the company. Despite the whistleblower tip, the FDA did not inspect the Sturgis plant until January 31 of this year, and the recall was not issued until February 17, according to a report from Food Safety News.

Approximately 40 percent of baby formula products were sold out during the week that started on April 24, according to a recent survey. Desperate parents have reportedly turned to eBay, where canisters cost more than six times the retail price. Viral images of empty shelves have alarmed parents, and the Biden administration has said it will take urgent action to address the shortage.

The shortage has other contributing factors. The U.S. maintains strict limits on imports of European brands of infant formula, despite studies showing that products under European Union regulations have high safety and nutrition standards. Competing brands in the U.S. have attempted to ramp up production to make up for the loss of Abbott Nutrition's Sturgis factory but have encountered supply chain problems.

https://theintercept.com/2022/...f5ce&mc_eid=e89261af4e

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Dora Hates You
 05/19/2022 10:21 AM
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follydude

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The "Party of Small Government" complaining that the government remained small.
 05/19/2022 10:56 AM
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Fish Killer

Posts: 71439
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"It's tough talk," Pitts told co-host Todd Piro. "It's smoke and mirrors, and it's insulting to American parents. You know what makes up baby formula? Rice starch, corn syrup and protein concentrate from cows' milk. Commodities. There's no shortage. Never been a shortage."

"So the Defense Production Act, it's just smoke and mirrors," he continued. "It's insulting. American parents want to know when the problem is going to be solved, not soundbites that are ridiculous from the outset."


-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
 05/19/2022 12:05 PM
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dingpatch

Posts: 19032
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Ummmmmmm, , , , , but, where else, how else, is the President supposed to tell private industry "what to do"?

The only, direct, plausible thing is to get Abbott Nutrition back up and running.

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Dora Hates You
 05/19/2022 10:00 PM
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sandi

Posts: 8932
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I realize FK doesn't care much about facts, but I'll throw this out there hoping he/she at least sez something funny.

How many babies are at the border receiving baby formula from our government?

You can look it up, if you actuually care. Let's just say, not many.

How many babies are in the U.S. needing formula. Well, millions.

My point ~ the babies at the border are less than than 1% of the total amount of babies in the U.S. needing formula.

So, the babies at the bordeer really aren't the problem.

And, FK, as a good "christian," what are you DOING to help feed American babies?

anything?
 05/20/2022 05:20 AM
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nukeh2o

Posts: 8894
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Rechumplican magats oink awaway about all manner of things.
Then do all in their power to block solutions
So much for winning

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It's a democratic hoax
 05/20/2022 05:28 AM
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scombrid

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 05/20/2022 05:30 AM
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scombrid

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This is the kind of fascist corporate welfare bullshit that libtards like Liz Warren, Bernie, AOC, et al. want to address. Hell, even the moderates like Obama want to tackle this. There is a Netflix special that Obama produced that touches a great deal on this very type of thing in the very first episode with respect to FDA regulations and "vertical integration".

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 05/20/2022 06:11 AM
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Fish Killer

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Maybe you should learn what the term 'monopoly' actually means before you use it in a stupid sentence like the one your bonehead produced above^

Monopoly Definition:
A monopoly is a dominant position of an industry or a sector by one company, to the point of excluding all other viable competitors.
Sep 1, 2021

-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
 05/20/2022 06:30 AM
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Cole

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Originally posted by: Fish Killer





Maybe you should learn what the term 'monopoly' actually means before you use it in a stupid sentence like the one your bonehead produced above^



Monopoly Definition:

A monopoly is a dominant position of an industry or a sector by one company, to the point of excluding all other viable competitors.

Sep 1, 2021


Um, that's exactly what it is.



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I was right.
 05/20/2022 06:46 AM
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tpapablo

Posts: 43826
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Originally posted by: Cole
Originally posted by: Fish Killer Maybe you should learn what the term 'monopoly' actually means before you use it in a stupid sentence like the one your bonehead produced above^ Monopoly Definition: A monopoly is a dominant position of an industry or a sector by one company, to the point of excluding all other viable competitors. Sep 1, 2021
Um, that's exactly what it is.
Yep, a monopoly of incompetence by Dementia Joe.

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I :heart; Q
 05/20/2022 07:53 AM
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scombrid

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Hey retards. One company controls a majority of the market share and that one company had a plant go down and that fucked up the whole supply. Guess what that means. There are too few producers in that sector controlling way too much of the market share. Obviously if one company having a supply issue causes a widespread shortage then that one company dominates the market to the exclusion of viable competitors. But that is what Senator McTurtle likes so that is what we have.

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 05/20/2022 08:49 AM
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Cole

Posts: 68176
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Originally posted by: scombrid

Hey retards. One company controls a majority of the market share and that one company had a plant go down and that fucked up the whole supply. Guess what that means. There are too few producers in that sector controlling way too much of the market share. Obviously if one company having a supply issue causes a widespread shortage then that one company dominates the market to the exclusion of viable competitors. But that is what Senator McTurtle likes so that is what we have.


They fail to grasp even the most simple principles.



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I was right.
 05/20/2022 09:38 AM
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Fish Killer

Posts: 71439
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Originally posted by: Cole

Originally posted by: Fish Killer











Maybe you should learn what the term 'monopoly' actually means before you use it in a stupid sentence like the one your bonehead produced above^







Monopoly Definition:



A monopoly is a dominant position of an industry or a sector by one company, to the point of excluding all other viable competitors.



Sep 1, 2021




Um, that's exactly what it is.


Well...no.

There are numerous companies that supply baby formula.

To be a monopoly there would have to be just one.

This again proves that in fact you never passed 3rd grade.

IQ69 strikes again!



-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
 05/20/2022 12:58 PM
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scombrid

Posts: 18018
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One company caused this because they control the market. Look it up genius.

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 05/20/2022 01:03 PM
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tpapablo

Posts: 43826
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Originally posted by: scombrid One company caused this because they control the market. Look it up genius.
Look this up: everyone know that progs are liars who are dedicated to destroying our country. Thus, everyone, except the exceptional idiots, are going to vote against them come Nov.

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I :heart; Q
 05/20/2022 04:49 PM
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Fish Killer

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Originally posted by: scombrid

One company caused this because they control the market. Look it up genius.


It's NOT one companies fault.

Biden could order the other ones to step up production...and THAT could have been done in JANUARY!

MORON!

-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
 05/20/2022 05:35 PM
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scombrid

Posts: 18018
Joined Forum: 07/24/2003

Hah. "Could have ordered them". Not the way a market economy works. But do keep showing your fascist colors. Funny how far the GOP has strayed from the Chicago School.

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 05/20/2022 06:26 PM
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Fish Killer

Posts: 71439
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Originally posted by: scombrid

Hah. "Could have ordered them". Not the way a market economy works. But do keep showing your fascist colors. Funny how far the GOP has strayed from the Chicago School.


Hah.

Biden has the ability to use the "Defense Production Act" and actually just has...you IDIOT!

Oh wait...that could have been used LAST JANUARY!

MORON!

-------------------------
The REAL truth is....both of the forum idiots are OWNED.
-BOTH of them have no clue who their owner is.
-They are both card carrying narcissists.
^These are PROVED facts.
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