On March 8, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released an Immediate National Strategy to Increase the Resiliency of the U.S. Infant Formula Market. On the same day, the agency’s response to the recent infant formula safety and supply crisis was called into question during a hearing with the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Health Care and Financial Services Hearing.

In a letter, top U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) officials called upon the infant formula industry to help the agency in protecting infants by ensuring the safety of their products.

he U.S. Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch has launched a criminal investigation against Abbott Nutrition due to the 2022 foodborne illness outbreak linked to powdered infant formula manufactured at the company’s Sturgis, Michigan facility. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released an outline of a prevention strategy that is under development for Cronobacter sakazakii contamination of powdered infant formula and enhance food safety. A notable action includes supporting the elevation of Cronobacter sakazakii infection among infants as a nationally notifiable disease.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service’s (USDA’s FSIS’) National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods will hold a virtual public meeting to discuss a work related to Cronobacter, Cyclospora, and Salmonella.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host a series of four webinars on the Infant Formula Transition Plan for Exercise of Enforcement Discretion.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue providing flexibility to infant formula manufacturers under certain conditions in an effort to stabilize U.S. product supplies. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has concluded its internal review of the agency’s response to the U.S. infant formula supply crisis, which details key findings and recommendations that will allow the agency to respond more quickly during food safety emergencies.

To mitigate future infant formula supply disruptions and food safety incidents, a U.S. Senate Committee passed an act that establishes new requirements for the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding formula regulation.